Polyethylene glycol modified ervo4 nanocrystals: Magnetic and optical properties

Abstract

Spindle-like ErVO4 nanocrystals were synthesized by precipitation in the presence of polyethylene glycol. Structural, optical and magnetic properties of as-prepared ErVO4 nanoparticles with and without polyethylene glycol were compared by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy. Crystal structures were tetragonal zircon type ErVO4 for both cases, and polyethylene glycol addition decreased average particle size from 70.69 to 38.78 nm, resulting more uniform particle formation. Polyethylene glycol proportion on ErVO4 surfaces was 9.8%, and its inclusion increased ErVO4 magnetization response to an external field as well as improving optical reflectivity, which is critical for nanophosphor use in biomedical fields.