Study of Functional Luminescent Nanoparticles

虽然很明显，纳米技术已经开创了一个新的科学时代，但越来越明显的是，功能性纳米颗粒将在许多领域产生前所未有的影响。功能性发光纳米颗粒近年来从基本观点和它们跨越几个部门（例如，能源和医疗保健）的潜在应用两者获得了显著的兴趣。鉴于这种无可辩驳的兴趣，我正在INRS-EMT开发一个雄心勃勃的研究计划，特别是对功能纳米材料的研究，特别是它们的发光特性。在本发明的发现资助申请的框架中，我打算阐明镧系元素掺杂的纳米颗粒的光物理性质，以研究与其发光性质的调制相关的三个基本方面。具体来说，在接下来的五年里，我将研究：（A）等离子体金属和镧系元素掺杂的上转换纳米粒子之间的关系，这些纳米粒子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型纳米架构如何提高上转换过程的效率，迄今为止，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，以开发创建纳米加热器和诱导局部热负荷的能力。(C)导致持续发光的基本机制，从而设计具有定制发射的新型纳米探针，其捕获光激发能量，然后在激发源关闭后的延长时间段（长达数小时）内以持续光的形式释放它。

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.