Bi2SiO5@g-SiO2 upconverting nanoparticles: a bismuth-driven core–shell self-assembly mechanism

Abstract

Core–shell systems have attracted increasing interest among the research community in recent years due to their unique properties and structural features, and the development of new synthetic strategies is still a challenge. In this work, we have investigated lanthanide-doped Bi₂SiO₅ nanocrystal formation inside mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The role of both synthesis temperature and concentration of the bismuth precursor impregnated into the MSNs is discussed, showing an unprecedented strategy for the simultaneous stabilization of a crystalline core and a glassy shell. Temperature dependent synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction (SR-XRPD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analyses allow one to follow the crystalline core growth. A mechanism for the formation of a Bi₂SiO₅@g-SiO₂ core–shell nanosystem is proposed. In addition, the easy tunability of the color output of the upconverting system is demonstrated by means of suitable doping lanthanide ions with potential applications in several fields.