Structural, optical and X-ray attenuation properties of Tb3+:BaxCe1−xF3−x (x = 0.18–0.48) nanospheres synthesized in polyol medium

• DOI: 10.1039/c8dt01202d
• Publication Date: 2018-05-28T08:34:19Z
• Authors: Daniel González-M...; Ana Isabel Becerro; Cécile Genevois; Mathieu Allix; Ariadna Corral; Angel Parrado-Gal...; Manuel Ocaña
• Keywords: Barium; Hexagonal phase

Uniform Ba0.18Ce0.82F2.82 nanospheres have been obtained after aging a solution of barium and cerium nitrates sodium tetrafluoroborate in mixture ethylene glycol water at 120 °C for 20 hours. The diameter the spheres could be tailored from 65 nm to 80 by varying NaBF4 concentration while maintaining their colloidal stability aqueous suspension. Increasing temperature led phase transformation hexagonal cubic symmetry concomitant increase Ba/Ce ratio, which reached value close nominal one (50/50) 240 °C. same method was successful obtaining Tb3+-doped with homogeneous cation distribution morphological features as undoped material. An intense green emission observed excitation samples through Ce3+-Tb3+ energy transfer (ET) band. ET efficiency increased increasing Tb content, maximum being 10% Tb-doped nanospheres. Aqueous suspensions latter sample showed excellent X-ray attenuation values that were superior those an iodine-based clinically approved contrast agent. Their fluorescence properties make this material potential dual bioprobe luminescence bioimaging computed tomography.