Near infrared luminescence properties of nanohybrid film prepared from LaPO4:Er3+/LaPO4 core/shell nanoparticles and silica-based resin

Abstract LaPO4:Er3+and LaPO4:Er3+/LaPO4 core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized in a high-boiling mixture solution of tributyl phosphate, trihexylamine and diphenylether. LaPO4:Er3+ nanoparticles of a spherical shape with a mean diameter of 5.0 nm were formed, while LaPO4:Er3+/LaPO4 core/shell nanoparticles resulted in an increase of the average size of nanoparticles (9.0 nm). The homogeneous inorganic–organic nanohybrid materials including LaPO4:Er3+ and LaPO4:Er3+/LaPO4 core/shell nanoparticles were prepared by dispersing the nanoparticles into the silica-based resin, which was synthesized by non-hydrolytic sol–gel method from (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPS), diphenylsilanediol (DPSD) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTS). The highly visible transparent films of crack-free thick thickness were fabricated by a single step spin-coating from the nanohybrid materials. The films containing LaPO4:Er3+/LaPO4 core/shell particles showed the enhanced emission intensity and lifetime compared to those with LaPO4:Er3+.