Synthesis and sensing application of highly luminescent and water stable polyaspartate functionalized LaF3 nanocrystals

Via a facile one-pot strategy, polyaspartate (PASP) coated LaF3:Ce3+/Tb3+ luminescent nanocrystals have been successfully prepared. Based on the luminescence quenching of the PASP modified LaF3:Ce3+/Tb3+ nanocrystals by Fe3+, a simple and novel luminescent chemosensor for Fe3+ has been developed. High selectivity and sensitivity is observed over other cations, which is mainly attributed to the formation of a PASP-Fe3+ complex on the NP surface. The luminescence of the suspensions was gradually quenched with the addition of Fe3+ ion, with a linear range of 5 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-4) mol L-1.