Preparation and upconversion luminescence of monodisperse Y2O2S:Yb/Ho-silica/aminosilane core-shell nanoparticles

Y2O2S:Yb/Ho-silica/aminosilane core-shell nanoparticles were prepared by a solid-gas method in combination with polyvinylpyrrolidone assisted one-step ammoniating method. The core was a single Y2O2S:Yb/Ho with 80 nm in diameter and the shell was silica/aminosilane with around 5 nm in thickness. The results of sedimentation experiment indicated that the nanoparticles could be well-dispersed in ethanol and water to form stable colloids. Since the coating weakened lattice vibration energies of the Y2O2S:Yb/Ho particles, the proportion of upconversion processes in the depletion of Ho3+5I6 level were increased, resulting in increase of green light and decrease of red light.