Bifunctional luminescent and magnetic core/shell type nanostructures Fe3O4@CeF3:Tb3+/SiO2

A facile co-precipitation and microemulsion methods were applied to obtain core/shell type nanoparticles. Cerium fluoride doped with terbium(III) ions supplied intensive green luminescence of the system. Due to the presence of magnetite nanoparticles as cores, the product was highly sensitive to external magnetic field. Both sorts of nanostructures were encapsulated by silica shell. Such external layer of inert oxide can potentially increase the resistance of prepared nanostructures to thermal oxidation, aggressive agents, changing of pH or destructive radiation. Morphology of the product was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Formations of the core/shell type nanostructures were clearly seen in the TEM pictures. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the structure of the products, their nanocrystallinity and amorphous nature of silica shell. Optical properties were investigated by measuring excitation and emission spectra. Such multifunctional luminescent and magnetic nanoparticles coated with easily functionalized silica shell could be applied in many field of science.