3D-NanoREV: 3D environmental studies of the microstructure engineering of vanadate-based phosphors at the nanoscale

Abstract

Rare earth vanadates are classic luminescent materials that remain as ubiquitous host lattices for ultraviolet- to near infrared excited thermal and chemical sensing, and for enzyme-like catalytic activity. The compositional, redox and microstructural richness of nanosized rare earth vanadates (NanoREV) enable not only the design of novel multifunctional materials but also to set new insights on solid-state and crystallisation mechanisms at the nanoscale. In situ 3D studies under controlled temperature and atmosphere via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) consist in a powerful approach for an in-depth analysis of morphological, structural, and chemical information, which can be further expanded to manipulate the properties of other promising classes of inorganic materials. Therefore, 3D-NanoREV will be focused on fundamental understanding of crystallisation, aggregation, and nanovoiding processes to precisely control the surface and structural engineering of inorganic nanoparticles by combining chemical synthesis, advanced TEM techniques, and theoretical simulations. Using rare earth vanadates as both model and target systems, we aim to upscale mechanisms and in situ observations to laboratory conditions to achieve a rational design of particle properties. The nanoscale behaviour of the vanadate nanoparticles will be analysed in parallel with optical information arising from lanthanide spectroscopy and with the ensemble-like structural properties observed in laboratory conditions to design functional materials for new emerging applications in thermometry, chemical sensing, and catalysis. (AU)