Hedgehog-Like Upconversion Crystals: Controlled Growth and Molecular Sensing at Single-Particle Level

Topological control of nanostructures plays a crucial role in understanding the crystal growth process at the nanometer length scale. Here, the scalable synthesis of upconversion materials with distinct hedgehog-like morphologies by a seed-mediated synthetic procedure is reported. It is demonstrated that a close match in the crystal lattice between the core and shell components is essential for synthesizing such hierarchical nanostructures. These optical nanomaterials also enable the development of a single-particle-based platform for high-sensitivity molecular sensing.

Hedgehog-like crystals comprising lanthanide dopants are synthesized through a combination of kinetic and thermodynamic control via a seed-mediated approach. The hierarchical morphology of the as-prepared crystals enables easy surface modification with a layer of MnO₂ nanosheets, further allowing the development of a single-particle-based platform for ultrasensitive molecular detection.

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