Enhanced Temperature-Sensing Behavior of Ho³⁺–Yb³⁺-Codoped CaTiO₃ and Its Hybrid Formation with Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles for Hyperthermia

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In the present work, we describe the synthesis of (Ca 0.99– x Ho 0.01 Yb x )TiO 3 ( x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) perovskite nanoparticles with a cubic structure by using a sol–gel method. As-synthesized particles have been found to be spherical in shape, as analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the product perovskite consist of distinct featured vibrational modes of Ti–O. Upconversion as well as power-dependent (500–4000 mW) spectra have been investigated at 980 nm excitation. It exhibits emission peaks at 547, 655, and 759 nm owing to 5 F 4 / 5 S 2 → 5 I 8, 5 F 5 → 5 I 8, and 5 F 4 / 5 S 2 → 5 I 7 transitions of Ho 3+ ions, respectively. Optical thermometry behavior has been evaluated using fluorescent intensity ratio (FIR) of thermally and electronically coupled levels of Ho 3+ ions. It reports a good sensitivity with 0.0229 and 3 × 10 –3 K –1 as estimated through thermally and electronically coupled FIR, respectively, at room temperature (303 K). Upconversion nanoparticles of (Ca 0.89 Ho 0.01 Yb 0.1 )TiO 3 have further been coupled with Fe 3 O 4 as hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia study. It attains hyperthermia temperature (42 °C) in 3 min under ac magnetic field, with a specific absorption rate of 35 W/g. Therefore, it could be interpreted that the present hybrid upconversion nanoparticles may be very useful and paves the path for cancer therapy (hyperthermia) and in likewise biomedical applications.