Novel lanthanide luminescent materials : sensing in solution and on solid surfaces

Abstract

This thesis entitled "Novel Lanthanide Luminescent Materials: Sensing in Solution and on Solid Surfaces" is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1, the introduction, is divided into two sections. The first half introduces the field of luminescent sensing, with a brief description of some fluorescent based sensors previously developed. The unique photophysical properties that the lanthanide metal ions have to offer are next discussed as an advantage over fluorescent emitting sensors. A review on the advances of lanthanide based probes reported in the literature and within the Gunnlaugsson research group is presented. The remainder of Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction into gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), from their discovery to more recent advances such as functionalisation with lanthanides. A review of some recent AuNPs functionalised probes is also discussed. The Chapter concludes with a description of the research conducted in each of the subsequent Chapters.