(64a) Optimization of Eu:TiO2 Nanoparticles for Aqueous Systems Applications

Novel Eu:TiO₂ nanoparticles, which are able to fluoresce, can be used to understand fundamental processes in biology. They will be introduced in young zebrafish to test the toxicity. The fluorescence previously achieved is not as high as expected. It is ideal to have higher detectable fluorescence from the nanoparticles so they can be tracked through the zebrafish which can be related to toxicity studies. Dibenzoylmethane (DBM) and Benzoic acid (Ba) were added to the europium complex at basic conditions to synthesize Eu(DBM)₃Ba:TiO₂ and Eu(DBM)₃:TiO₂. Shperical particles were synthesized using a pressure bomb at 120°C and different times intervals. IR studies showed a shift in the C=O peak, from 1,650 to 1500cm^-1, indicating that the ligands are interacting with europium through this bond. The SEM images showed that particle size range from 1 to 3µm for particles that were treated at 300 and 180 minutes in the pressure bomb. Nevertheless, solutions that were heated for 30 minutes gave a mixture of micro and nano-scale sized particles. The fluorescence of these particles is being quenched, which is due to the size of the particles. The next step is to improve synthesis, since nano-scale particles, with high fluorescence, are desired.