Study of Functional Luminescent Nanoparticles

显然，纳米技术开启了科学的新纪元，但越来越明显的是，功能纳米粒子将在许多领域产生前所未有的影响。近年来，功能发光纳米颗粒无论是从基本观点还是在能源和医疗保健等多个领域的潜在应用，都引起了人们的极大兴趣。鉴于这种无可辩驳的兴趣，我在INRS-EMT制定了一项雄心勃勃的纳米功能材料研究计划，特别是对其发光性能的研究。在目前的Discovery Grant申请的框架内，我打算对稀土掺杂纳米粒子的光物理性质进行一些阐述，以研究与其发光性质调制相关的三个基本方面。具体地说，在接下来的五年里，我将研究：(A)等离子金属和掺镧上转换纳米颗粒之间的关系，这种纳米颗粒具有通过称为上转换的多光子过程将低能近红外辐射转换为更高能量的固有能力。我们的目标是了解这种新颖的纳米结构如何提高上转换过程的效率，到目前为止，上转换过程的效率非常低。(B)如何操纵和控制4f电子态的基本辐射和非辐射过程，以发展产生纳米加热器和诱导局部热负荷的能力。(C)导致持久发光的基本机制(S)，从而设计出具有量身定制的发射的新型纳米探测器，该探测器捕捉光激发能量，然后在激发源关闭后以持久光的形式释放它。

While it is clear that nanotechnology has ushered in a new era for science, it is becoming increasingly apparent that functional nanoparticles will have an unprecedented impact in a number of fields. Functional luminescent nanoparticles have garnered significant interest in recent years from both a fundamental viewpoint and for their potential applications spanning several sectors, energy and health care, for example. Given this irrefutable interest, I am developing an ambitious and vigorous research programme at INRS-EMT on functional nanomaterials and in particular, the study of their luminescent properties. In the framework of the present Discovery Grant application, I intend to shed some light on the photophysical properties of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, to investigate three fundamental aspects related to the modulation of their luminescent properties. Specifically, over the course of the next five years, I will study: (A) the relationship between plasmonic metals and lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles, which have the inherent capability to convert low energy near-infrared radiation to higher energies via a multi-photon process known as upconversion. We aim to understand how such novel nanoarchitectures can increase the efficiency of the upconversion process, which to date is critically low. (B) How to manipulate and control basic radiative and non-radiative processes of the 4f electronic states to develop the ability to create nanoheaters and induce a localized thermal load. (C) The basic mechanism(s) leading to persistent luminescence thereby designing novel nanoprobes, with tailored emission, which capture the optical excitation energy and then release it in the form of persistent light over an extended period of time (up to hours) after the excitation source has been turned off.