Probing a Bifunctional Luminomagnetic Nanophosphor for Biological Applications: a Photoluminescence and Time‐Resolved Spectroscopic Study

Abstract

A bifunctional luminomagnetic ≈30 nm Gd1-xEuxVO4 nanophosphor is synthesized using a facile sol–gel method. The nanophosphor is observed to produce both paramagnetic behavior and a highly efficient red emission peaking at 618 nm. Probing the luminomagnetic nanophosphor using photoluminescence, time-resolved spectroscopy, magnetization measurements, and a cytotoxicity assay reveal its suitability for biological applications, in particular, cell labeling and high-contrast imaging.