Silica nanoparticles for micro-particle imaging velocimetry: fluorosurfactant improves nanoparticle stability and brightness of immobilized iridium(III) complexes

David J Lewis, Valentina Dore, Nicola J Rogers, Thomas K Mole, Gerard B Nash, Panagiota Angeli, Zoe Pikramenou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To establish highly luminescent nanoparticles for monitoring fluid flows, we examined the preparation of silica nanoparticles based on immobilization of a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex and an examination of the photophysical studies provided a good insight into the Ir(III) microenvironment in order to reveal the most suitable silica nanoparticles for micro particle imaging velocimetry (μ-PIV) studies. Iridium complexes covalently incorporated at the surface of preformed silica nanoparticles, [Ir-4]@Si500-Z, using a fluorinated polymer during their preparation, demonstrated better stability than those without the polymer, [Ir-4]@Si500, as well as an increase in steady state photoluminescence intensity (and therefore particle brightness) and lifetimes which are increased by 7-fold compared with nanoparticles with the same metal complex attached covalently throughout their core, [Ir-4]⊂Si500. Screening of the nanoparticles in fluid flows using epi-luminescence microscopy also confirm that the brightest, and therefore most suitable particles for microparticle imaging velocimetry (μ-PIV) measurements are those with the Ir(III) complex immobilized at the surface with fluorosurfactant, that is [Ir-4]@Si500-Z. μ-PIV studies demonstrate the suitability of these nanoparticles as nanotracers in microchannels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14701-8
Number of pages8
JournalLangmuir
Volume29
Issue number47
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2013

Keywords

  • Iridium
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Particle Size
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents

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