Laf3 Core/Shell Nanoparticles For Subcutaneous Heating And Thermal Sensing In The Second Biological-Window

We report on Ytterbium and Neodymium codoped LaF3 core/shell nanoparticles capable of simultaneous heating and thermal sensing under single beam infrared laser excitation. Efficient light-to-heat conversion is produced at the Neodymium highly doped shell due to non-radiative de-excitations. Thermal sensing is provided by the temperature dependent Nd3+ -> Yb3+ energy transfer processes taking place at the core/shell interface. The potential application of these core/shell multifunctional nanoparticles for controlled photothermal subcutaneous treatments is also demonstrated. Published by AIP Publishing.