Acoustic Modulation of Emission, Energy Transfer, and CPL in Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Nanoparticles

• Grant number: 25/17225-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Aparecido Sigoli
• Grantee: Pablo Batista Pinto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/08111-2 - Development of rare earth based light converters: luminescent markers, optical sensors, and amplifiers, AP.TEM

Abstract

The development of high-precision luminescent nanosensors is crucial for applications in biomedicine, nanotechnology, and electronics. While enabling sensitive biomolecule detection, nanoscale material manipulation, and device miniaturization. Surface acoustic waves (SAWs), generated on piezoelectric substrates, offer a promising route by dynamically modulating optical and electronic properties through mechanical strain and piezoelectric potentials. This project investigates the coupling of SAWs with lanthanide-based nanoparticles (NPs), focusing on ions such as Er³¿, Yb³¿, Tm³¿, and Eu³¿. Preliminary results demonstrated up to a 300-fold enhancement in luminescence under acoustic modulation. Additionally, we will explore the modulation of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), aiming to achieve optical chirality control. The observed intensity enhancement significantly improves CPL measurements by reducing uncertainties from weak signals. Given its potential applications in security devices, molecular fingerprinting, and optical sensing, the control of CPL represents a promising frontier in nanophotonics. By studying upconversion core@shell NPs deposited on SAW delay lines and analyzing their optical properties under acoustic modulation at cryogenic temperatures, this work seeks to demonstrate the simultaneous control of luminescence and chirality. The outcomes are expected to advance fundamental understanding of SAW-mediated energy transfer processes and contribute to the development of next-generation luminescent nanosensors and photonic devices.