Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials Using Plasmonic-Enhanced Upconversion FRET for Multiplexed Sensing and Optical Barcoding - nanohype

Project summary

The nanohype project will combine computational modeling, synthesis, and experimental validation to design novel metal-shelled upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) with 1) a 50-fold enhanced photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield compared to conventional UCNPs; 2) tunable PL lifetimes between 100 ns and 600 µs; 3) tunable PL colors by multiplexed Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to quantum dots (QDs) or dyes; and 4) colloidal stability in aqueous solutions. The multidisciplinary nanohype consortium will create new synergies and improved predictive power by modeling multifunctional photoluminescent nanomaterials (PNMs) for targeted material design and engineering. Direct validation of modeling results by experimental demonstration will be a benchmark for future PNM designs and a necessary and highly relevant step for the future integration of such PNMs in industrial production and innovative applications.