Morphological optimization and (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxy silane surface modification of Y3Al5O12:Pr nanoscintillator for biomedical applications

• Y3Al5O12:Pr (YAG:Pr) is a potential nanophosphor for biomedical applications.
• We show the synthesis of YAG:Pr by combustion and sol–gel methods.
• Sol–gel synthesis route led to the better size distribution and morphology.
• Sol–gel synthesized YAG:Pr also displayed uniform APTMS coating.

The present work details the effect of synthesis route on the morphology, luminescence property and surface functionalizability of Pr3+ doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Pr) as a potential nanoscintillator for biomedical applications. Highly crystalline and pure YAG:Pr nanocrystals were synthesized via sol–gel (YAG:PrSG) and combustion synthesis (YAG:PrCB) techniques by using metal nitrates as the precursors. The surface of the YAG:Pr nanophosphors was successfully modified with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and a comparative analysis of the synthesized nanocrystals displayed narrower size distribution, regular morphology and better surface chemistry of YAG:PrSG. Thus, sol–gel method produced better nanophosphors with improved properties for further surface functionalization with biomolecules required in biomedical applications.

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