Sensitive detection of NaYF4: Yb/Tm nanoparticles using suspended core microstructured optical fibers

Erik P. Schartner; Dayong Jin; Jiangbo Zhao; Tanya M. Monro

doi:10.1117/12.2004236

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22 February 2013 Sensitive detection of NaYF₄: Yb/Tm nanoparticles using suspended core microstructured optical fibers

Erik P. Schartner, Dayong Jin, Jiangbo Zhao, Tanya M. Monro

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Proceedings Volume 8595, Colloidal Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications VIII; 85950X (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004236
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Rare-earth doped upconversion nanocrystals are emerging as the next-generation luminescent biomaterials. Here we load NaYF₄: Yb/Er and N_aYF₄: Yb/Tm upconversion nanocrystals into a soft-glass suspended-core optical fiber dip sensor, allowing sensitive measurements and power-dependent characterizations to be performed. This, in combination with negligible background autofluorescence from the glass fiber when using infrared excitation has provided a significant improvement in terms of sensitivity over what has previously been demonstrated using an optical fiber dip sensor. For detection we employ suspended-core optical fibers, which have found extensive use in sensing applications. These combine the high evanescent overlap comparable to that of a nanowire, with the robust handling characteristics and long interaction length of a conventional fiber. The fiber sensor platform allows measurements to be performed using minimal sample volumes (<20 nL) while still maintaining the sensitivity of the platform.

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Erik P. Schartner, Dayong Jin, Jiangbo Zhao, and Tanya M. Monro "Sensitive detection of NaYF₄: Yb/Tm nanoparticles using suspended core microstructured optical fibers", Proc. SPIE 8595, Colloidal Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications VIII, 85950X (22 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004236

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