Synthesis and Rational design of Europium and Lithium Doped Sodium Zinc Molybdate with Red Emission for Optical Imaging

Highly efficient fluorescent and biocompatible europium doped sodium zinc molybdate (NZMOE) nanoprobes were successfully synthesized via Polyol method. Non-radiative defect centres get reduced with Li(+) co-doping in NZMOE nanoprobes. XRD spectra and Rietveld refinement confirmed successful incorporation of lithium ion and crystallinity was also improved with Li(+) co-doping. The shape of phosphor is rod shaped, as determined by TEM. Significant enhancement in photoluminescence intensity was observed with 266, 395 and 465 nm excitations. Profound red emission was recorded for 5 at% Li(+) co-doped NZMOE nanoprobes with 266 nm excitation. It shows high asymmetry ratio (~15), color purity (94.90%) and good quantum efficiency (~70%). Judd Ofelt parameters have been calculated to measure intensity parameters and radiative transition rates. In order to measure biocompatibility of the nanoprobes, cytotoxicity assays were performed with HePG2 cells. The fluorescence emitted from phosphor material treated HePG2 cells was also measured by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy. The bright red fluorescence in HePG2 cells treated with very low concentration (20 μg/ml) of phosphor material indicates that it could be a promising phosphor for biological detection or bio-imaging.