Luminescence property and magnetic resonance imaging of Gd2O3:Tb3+ nanocrystals doped with Zn2+, Li+

Gd2O3:Tb(3+)nanocrystal co-doped with Zn(2+)and Li(+)was prepared by the combination of polyol and solid-phase methods. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results revealed that both Gd2O3:Tb3+/Zn(2+)and Gd2O3:Tb3+/Li(+)had cubic unit structures with a spherical shape, and the fluorescence intensity of the nanoparticles reached a maximum at a doping concentration of 0.050 mmol% for Zn(2+)and 2 mol% for Li+, respectively. In addition, theT(1)/T-2(longitudinal/transverse relaxation time)-weighted MRI signals got enhanced due to the increased longitudinal relaxivity (r(1)) and transverse relaxivity (r(2)) after the doping by metal ions. Therefore, the materials reported here can be used for fluorescence and MR bimodal imaging, as tracers and for fluorescence detections. Graphic abstract