One-pot synthesis and photoluminescence properties of luminescent functionalized mesoporous SiO 2@Tb(OH) 3 core-shell nanospheres

Abstract

A facile one-pot synthesis method was used for the preparation of water-soluble luminescent mesoporous SiO 2@Tb(OH) 3 core-shell nanospheres. The prepared core-shell nanospheres have amorphous characteristics, with diameters in the distribution range of 105-135 nm. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the non-crystalline nature of the core-shell nanospheres. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results have also revealed a typically ordered mesoporous characteristic of the nanospheres, which have a monodisperse spherical feature in addition to a porous surface and a narrow size distribution. Our optical studies have shown the characteristic emission of Tb 3+ ( 5D 4- 7F j, where j = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 0), even after making a core-shell structure on the surface of the mesoporous silica nanoparticles, indicating that Tb 3+ interacts with the silica framework (possibly the hydroxyl groups on the silica surface), and thus prevents aggregation among the Tb 3+ ions, therefore efficiently enhancing the luminescence character of the nanospheres. These water-soluble luminescent mesoporous SiO 2@Tb(OH) 3 core-shell nanospheres could be highly suitable materials for optical bioprobes, protein labeling and drug-delivery, as particle sizes in the range of 50 to 300 nm are widely sought for drug delivery systems. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012.