Preparation and luminescent properties of Ag-SiO₂-CeF₃：Tb³⁺ composite nanoparticles

Core-shell structure Ag-SiO₂-CeF₃:Tb³⁺ composite luminescent nanoparticles are fabricated via a simple liquid method at room temperature, the structure and properties are characterized. The results show that orthogonal phase CeF₃:Tb³⁺ nanocrystals are coated on the surface of Ag-SiO₂. The obtained Ag-SiO₂-CeF₃:Tb³⁺composites have spherical morphology, the size is about 45-60 nm, and the surface is tough. Their photoluminescence properties show to be the same as those of the pure CeF₃:Tb³⁺, and the strong emission peak is near 544 nm which is corresponding to ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺, Ag core quenches the luminescence of CeF₃:Tb³⁺. This functional Ag-SiO₂-CeF₃:Tb³⁺composites would be potentially applied in biology detection and disease therapy fields.