Traps, size and aqueous-dispersibility are the most important parameters that affect the features and applications of persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs). However, simultaneous controlling of these parameters is rather difficult and has not been reported yet. We present the first exploration on adjusting the traps, size and aqueous-dispersibility of PLNPs via simple ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) etching. Cr_0.004³⁺:ZnGa₂O₄ (ZGO) was used as the PLNP model. EDTA etching of the sintered ZGO results in effective reduction of the size and great improvement in the aqueous-dispersibility. In addition, EDTA etching alters the density of mediate traps and generates new deep traps, thus achieving the massive production of (ultra)small ZGO–EDTA with fine aqueous-dispersibility, suitable mediate/deep traps and superlong bright afterglows (51 days). As EDTA can interact with most metals, this simple EDTA etching strategy is prospectively amenable to other PLNPs, and the resulting PLNPs–EDTA have wide applications in both biological field and information storage.

中文翻译：

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EDTA蚀刻：一种简单的方法，可调节Cr ³⁺掺杂的没食子酸锌的陷阱，尺寸和水分散性† •

陷阱，尺寸和水分散性是影响持久性发光纳米粒子（PLNP）的特性和应用的最重要参数。然而，同时控制这些参数是相当困难的，并且尚未被报道。我们提出了通过简单的乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）蚀刻来调节PLNP的陷阱，尺寸和水分散性的首次探索。铬_0.004 ³⁺：ZnGa ₂ O ₄（ZGO）被用作PLNP模型。EDTA蚀刻ZGO的结果是有效地减小了尺寸，大大改善了水分散性。此外，EDTA蚀刻改变了中间陷阱的密度并产生了新的深陷阱，从而实现了大量（超）小型ZGO-EDTA的生产，并具有良好的水分散性，合适的中间/深陷阱和超长的明亮余辉（51天）。由于EDTA可以与大多数金属相互作用，因此这种简单的EDTA蚀刻策略有望适用于其他PLNP，并且由此产生的PLNP-EDTA在生物领域和信息存储中都有广泛的应用。