Improved negative thermal quenching effect via high sensitizer doping content in NaGdF4 based active-core/active-shell architecture

Abstract The strategies of introducing interior defects and reducing mean particle size have been applied to improve negative thermal quenching effect (TQE) in Yb 3 + sensitized fluoride upconversion (UC) nanocrystals (NCs) recently. Herein, an active-core/active-shell structure with high total Yb 3 + doping content is used to enhance the absorption intensity of Er 3 + ions. Moreover, the Er 3 + activators are doped into the shell to enable the energy migration process from activators to surface defects. In this scenario, with the rise of temperature, the suppression degree of this energy migration process is enlarged followed by an improved negative TQE. Specifically, with rising the temperature from 293 K to 413 K, the integral upconversion emission intensity of 40Yb: NaGdF 4 @60Yb/2Er: NaGdF 4 NCs increases by ∼ 8.24 times, while that of NaGdF 4 @20Yb/2Er: NaGdF 4 NCs with a similar mean particle size only enhances ∼ 3.44 times.