INOR 504

LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a simple method carried out in aqueous solution at low temperature. The nanocrystals are well crystalline possess nearly cubic shaped structure and an average particle size of below 30 nm. The as-formed LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles, LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles functionalized with amino groups, biotin conjugated amino-functionalized LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV/vis absorption spectra and luminescence spectra, respectively. The biofunctionalization of the LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles has less effect on their luminescence properties, i.e. they still show strong green emission (from Tb3+, with 5D4–7F5 at 543 nm as the most prominent group), indicative of the great potential for these LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles to be used as biological fluorescence probes.