Gold nanoparticles show surprisingly strong interactions with light in the visible range, which can be divided into scattering, absorption, and photoluminescence. When a nanoparticle absorbs light,... Show moreGold nanoparticles show surprisingly strong interactions with light in the visible range, which can be divided into scattering, absorption, and photoluminescence. When a nanoparticle absorbs light, the corresponding energy is converted to heat, which can affect the environment of the (hot) nanoparticle. This thesis uses scattering and photoluminescence to study the behaviour of optically heated single gold nanoparticles: it discusses the behaviour of single plasmonic vapour nanobubbles, which occur around highly heated nanoparticles immersed in a liquid, the detection of chirality in nano-objects through their absorption and the photothermal effect, the behaviour of gold nanoparticles under sub-picosecond pulsed excitation, and the temperature dependence of pulse-excited photoluminescence of such particles. Show less
Lehchili, F.; Setifi, F.; Liu, X.; Saneei, A.; Kucerakova, M.; Setifi, Z.; ... ; Reedijk, J. 2017
Gold nanorods are ideal candidates for complementing fluorophores in labelling applications. The presence of the surface plasmon resonance generates large absorption and scattering cross sections,... Show moreGold nanorods are ideal candidates for complementing fluorophores in labelling applications. The presence of the surface plasmon resonance generates large absorption and scattering cross sections, thus making the detection of single nanoparticles possible under a light microscope. The plasmon of gold nanorods depends on the ratio between their width and length and covers the range between 540nm for spheres and even above 800nm for elongated particles, thus almost the entire visible and near-infrared spectrum. The surface plasmon presents great opportunities in (bio-)sensing, enhanced spectroscopies, photothermal therapy and for concentrating light below the diffraction limit. Show less
Liu, X.; Siegler, M.A.; Hilbers, M.; Bouwman, E. 2017
A luminescent thin film, Eu@glass, has been prepared on the surface of glass substrates from a silylated diamidopyridyl ligand L and the complex [Eu(dbm)3(H2O)2] (Hdbm = dibenzoylmethane) via a sol... Show moreA luminescent thin film, Eu@glass, has been prepared on the surface of glass substrates from a silylated diamidopyridyl ligand L and the complex [Eu(dbm)3(H2O)2] (Hdbm = dibenzoylmethane) via a sol–gel method. The Eu@glass exhibits intense red photoluminescence under the irradiation of near UV light with a quantum yield of 26%. Compared to the compound [Eu(dbm)3(H2O)2], the photoluminescence intensity of Eu@glass is dramatically enhanced, and the emission lifetime of EuIII (0.517 ms) is more than an order of magnitude longer. Show less
Lanthanoid coordination polymers (Ln CPs), self-assembled from organic ligands and lanthanoid ions, combine the promising properties of normal transition metal CPs, such as a well-defined... Show moreLanthanoid coordination polymers (Ln CPs), self-assembled from organic ligands and lanthanoid ions, combine the promising properties of normal transition metal CPs, such as a well-defined structures and large surface areas, with the properties of lanthanoid ions, notably luminescence and magnetism. As the oxidation state and chemical properties of the lanthanoid ions are highly similar, it is possible to prepare mixed-metal Ln CPs which show dual emission from two different lanthanoid ions or lanthanoid ions and ligands. In this research we focused on the preparation of Ln CPs, especially those containing two or more different lanthanoid ions, and the exploration of their applications in sensing. These dual-emission Ln CPs show good performance for temperature sensing: the intensity ratio from two individual emission peaks can be used as parameters for temperature. Furthermore, Gd2O3 was demonstrated to be an excellent substrate for the growth of thin films of Ln CPs. The temperature-sensing properties of these Ln CP films are also reported. Show less
