Hydrogels dispersed by doped rare earth fluoride nanocrystals: Ionic liquid dispersion and down/up-conversion luminescence

• New luminescent hydrogels are prepared.
• Rare earth fluoride nanocrystals are dispersed into ionic liquid compound.
• Up-conversion luminescence of the fluoride dispersed hydrogel are obtained.

Two typical kinds of rare earth fluoride nanocrystals codoped with rare earth ions (Eu3+ and Tm3+/Er3+,Yb3+) are synthesized and dispersed in ionic liquid compound (1-chlorohexane-3-methylimidazolium chloride, abbreviated as [C6mim][Cl]). Assisted by agarose, the luminescent hydrogels are prepared homogeneously. The down/up-conversion luminescence of these hydrogels can be realized for the dispersed rare earth fluoride nanocrystals. The results provide a strategy to prepare luminescent (especially up-conversion luminescent) hydrogels with ionic liquid to disperse rare earth fluoride nanocrystals.

Two typical kinds of hydrogels are prepared with codoped rare earth fluoride nanocrystals dispersed in ion liquid compound ([C6mim][Cl]) assisted by agarose, which present the up-conversion luminescence of the immobilized rare earth fluoride nanocrystals.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide