NIR‐I/III afterglow induced by energy transfers between Er and Cr codoped in ZGGO nanoparticles for potential bioimaging
Jian Yang, Rongyun Jiang, Yangqi Meng, Yangyang Zhao, Mingwei Wang, Hancheng Zhu, Duanting Yan, Chunguang Liu, Changshan Xu, Yuxue Liu
Abstract
Abstract Herein, Cr 3+ and Er 3+ codoped zinc gallogermanate (ZGGO) nanoparticles with average size of ~60 nm was synthesized via a hydrothermal path. It was found that near infrared (NIR)‐III (~1540 nm) afterglow was realized in ZGGO:Cr 3+ ,Er 3+ nanoparticles based on the successive energy transfer (ET) from Cr 3+ to Er 3+ after the stoppage of low‐dose (60 mSv) X‐ray irradiation. Meanwhile, the upconverted afterglow at 696 nm was produced via the ET from Er 3+ to Cr 3+ under different NIR light (808, 980, and 1532 nm) irradiations. Our results demonstrated that an X‐ray pre‐irradiation and a subsequent 980‐nm light re‐excitation might be a good strategy for realizing potential bioimaging. In particular, local‐tissue NIR‐I afterglow imaging using Cr 3+ and Er 3+ codoped ZGGO nanoparticles can be easily acquired by one‐step 980‐nm laser radiation. Furthermore, NIR‐I/III afterglow mechanisms of ZGGO:Cr 3+ ,Er 3+ nanoparticles after stopping X‐ray or different NIR lights (808, 980, and 1532 nm) irradiations were given.