Magnetic and optical properties of NaGdF4：Nd^3＋, Yb^3＋, Tm^3＋ nanocrystals with upconversion/downconversion luminescence from visible to the near-infrared second window

We have designed and synthesized NaGdF4：Nd^3＋, Yb^3＋, Tm^3＋. magnetic nano- phosphors with combined dual-mode downconversion （DC） and upconversion （UC） photoluminescence upon 800 run excitation. Hexagonal-phase NaGdF4：Nd^3＋, Yb^3＋, Tm^3＋ nanocrystals （NCs） with an average size of 21 nm were synthesized using a solvothermal approach. Nd^3＋, Yb^3＋, Tm^3＋ triple-doped NaGdF4 NCs exhibit a broad range of photoluminescence peaks covering a near infrared first/second window （860-900, 1,000, and 1,060 nm）, and visible emission including blue （475 nm）, green （520 and 542 nm） and yellow （587 nm） after excitation at 800 nm. A mechanism involving circulation of energy over Gd^3＋ sublattices as bridge ions and final trapping by the initial activator ions （Nd^3＋） has been proposed. Penetration depth studies indicate that NIR emission is easily detected even at a large tissue thickness of 10 mm. These paramagnetic nanophosphors demonstrate a large magnetization value of 1.88 emu/g at 20 kOe and longitudinal relaxivity value of 1.2537 mM-1.S-1 as a Tl-weighted magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. These NaGdF4：Nd^3＋, Yb^3＋ Tm^3＋ NCs are promising for applications in biological and magnetic resonance imaging.