Detection of up-conversion in nano-structure BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> co-doped with Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

Nano-structure pure barium titanate BaTiO₃ (BT) and (BT) co-doped with constant concentration of Er³⁺ ions and different concentrations of Yb³⁺ ions were prepared using sol–gel method. XRD results confirmed that the pure sample was found to crystallize in tetragonal phase by sintering at 750 °C for 1 h. All major peaks corresponding to perovskite BT phase appeared. Efficient infrared-to-visible up-conversion is reported in the doped samples. The conversion process and results in the generation of visible emissions are discussed. Up-conversion efficiency for red emission predominates in doped samples. Results illustrate the large potential of this class of materials for photonic applications in optoelectronics devices.     

氧化铝对稀土有机配合物掺杂溶胶凝胶玻璃结构及发光性能的影响

Both silica glass materials singly doped with rare earth organic complex and co-doped with Al^3 were prepared by in situ sol-gel method respectively. XRD and SEM measurements were performed to verify the non-crystalline structure of the glass. The excitation spectra, emission spectra and IR spectra were measured to analyze the influence of the glass contents on the structure of the glass and the energy level of the doped Eu(IH) ions. The effect of Al^3 on the photoluminescence properties of rare earth organic complex in silica glass was investigated. The IR spectra indicated that the in situ synthesized europium complex molecule was confined to the micropores of the host and the vibration of the ligands was frozen. When Al2O3 was doped into the silica host gel, the rare earth ions in the silica network were wrapped up and dispersed by Al2O3, so the distribution of Eu(Ⅲ) complex in the host was morehomogeneous, and the luminescence intensity of ^5D0-^7F2 transition emission of the Eu^3 ions was improved. The results showed that an appropriate amount of Al^3 added to the gel glass improved the emission intensity of the complex in the silica glass, and when the content of Al2O3 reached 4 mol%, the maximum emission intensity could be obtained compared with that of other samples containing different Al2O3 contents.     

Preparation and electrorheological characteristic of Y-doped BaTiO3 suspension under dc electric field

The electrorheological (ER) effects of BaTiO₃ or other perovskite materials with high dielectric constant are presumed to be large. However, their weak ER activity is very puzzling. In this study, we choose cubic BaTiO₃ and first achieve its ER enhancement under dc electric field by modifying its intrinsic structure with doping rare earth Y ions, which are synthesized by means of sol-gel technique. DSC-TG, FT-IR, XRD, ICP and XPS techniques are used to characterize thermal, structure and component change of materials. It is demonstrated that Y³⁺ substitutes for Ba²⁺, which causes lattice-distorting defects. Rheological experiments show that Y-doped BaTiO₃ suspension has notable ER effect and clear fibrillation structure under dc electric field, while the pure cubic BaTiO₃ suspension suffers from electrophoretic effects and its ER effect is very weak. The ER effect of typical Y-doped BaTiO₃ ER suspension is ten times that of pure BaTiO₃ ER suspension. Based on the electrical measurements, the enhancement of ER activity of BaTiO₃ may be attributed to the increase of conductivity due to Y-doping. The enhancement in ER activity of cubic BaTiO₃ under dc electric field by doping rare earth Y ions is helpful to further understand the perovskite-based ER materials with high dielectric constant but low ER activity.     

Study of lanthanide aromatic acid complexes in silica gels by photoacoustic spectroscopy

Lanthanide complexes Ln(p-ABA)₃·H₂O (p-ABA: p-aminobenzoic acid; Ln³⁺:La³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Er³⁺) have been incorporated into silica gels via a sol–gel method. Upon heat treatment at 120 °C, photoacoustic (PA) intensity of the ligand increases for Tb³⁺, La³⁺ and Er³⁺ complexes in silica gels, respectively, while this difference cannot be observed for the samples without heat treatment. Different PA intensities of the samples are interpreted by comparison with their luminescence spectra. The nephelauxetic parameters and PA branching vectors of Er³⁺ complex in silica gel have been calculated. Spectral results indicate that p-ABA does not coordinate with lanthanide ions in silica matrix without a suitable heat treatment. For the co-doped samples, it is shown that the emissions of Tb³⁺ are enhanced with addition of La(p-ABA)₃·H₂O and remarkably quenched with the addition of Er(p-ABA)₃·H₂O. The possible mechanisms for these phenomena are proposed.     

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Luminescent Sol-Gel Films Containing a RE3+ Carboxylic Acid Complex

RE³⁺ (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) complexes with carboxylic acid (salicylic acid and benzoic acid) were introduced into the sol, which was prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). A sol-gel luminescent thin film (SG-LTF) was then prepared by dispersing the sol onto a silica substrate by a spin coating method. Multi-layer luminescent thin films were prepared by repeating the same process. The luminescent spectra, fluorescence lifetime and thermal stability of the SG-LTFs were investigated. For the reason of comparison polyvinylbutyral (PVB) was added into a N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in which the comparative RE³⁺ carboxylic acid complexes were previously dissolved to form the DMF/PVB solution and the PVB luminescent thin film (PVB-LTF) was prepared. The results show that a broad excitation band indicates the formation of RE complexes in the solid SG-LTFs. RE ions, which are restrained in the silica matrix, present longer lifetimes and higher thermal stability than that in the PVB-LTF containing the corresponding pure complexes. The different doping concentration of RE (III) complexes in the SG-LTFs and the different change of the emission intensities with the heat treatment temperature in the sol-gel thin film and the sol-gel bulk gel were also discussed in this paper.     

Preparation of C60–Silica Hybrid Monolith by Sol-Gel Process

A C₆₀–silica hybrid monolith was prepared by the hydrosilylation of C₆₀ in the presence of platinum catalyst followed by sol-gel process with tetraethoxysilane. The hydrosilylation with trichlorosilane, triethoxysilane, chlorodiphenylsilane, and dichlorophenylsilane gave silylated C₆₀s as a brown pasty liquid. The formula was estimated to be C₆₀{Si(OEt)₃}_2.6H_2.6 or C₆₀(SiPh₂Cl)_3.2H_3.2 based on the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. A C₆₀–silica hybrid gel monolith was obtained by sol-gel process of the silylates and tetraethoxysilane in ethanol followed by aging for 3 weeks at room temperature. The monolith was brown and transparent with a diameter of 25 mm. On the other hand, the sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane, trimethoxyphenylsilane, and C₆₀ provided a heterogeneous gel with a phase separation of C₆₀.     

Application of pure silica gel as cation-exchange stationary phase in lon chromatography with indirect photometric detection for common mono-and divalent cations using aromatic monoamines as eluents

Summary A pure silica gel (Pia Seed 5S-60-SIL), synthesized by the hydrolysis of pure tetraethoxysilane [Si(OCH₂CH₃)₄], was applied as a cation-exchange stationary phase in ion chromatography with indirect photometric detection for common mono-and divalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) using various protonated aromatic monoamines (tyramine [4-(2-aminethyl) phenol], benzylamine, phenylethylamine, 2-methylpyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine) as eluet ions. When using 0.75 mM tyramine-0.25 mM oxalic acid-1.5 mM 18-crown-6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) at pH 5.0 as the eluent, excellent simultaneous separation and highly sensitive detection at 275 nm for these mono-and divalent cations were achieved on the Pia Seed 5S-60-SIL column (150×4.6 mm I.D.) in 20 min.     

Sol-gel powder synthesis in the TiO2-TeO2-ZnO system: Structural characterization and properties

The present study deals with the gel formation tendency in the ternary TeO₂-TiO₂-ZnO system. Depending on the TiO₂ amount, the gelation occurred at different times and subsequently several gel formation regions have been determined. Homogeneous, transparent and monolithic gels were obtained using combination of organic and inorganic precursors during the synthesis. Using XRD analysis it was established that upon the heating composites were obtained which contain an amorphous phase and different crystalline phases: TiO₂ (anatase), TiO₂ (rutile), α-TeO₂ and ZnTeO₃, depending on composition. The IR results showed that the short range order of the amorphous phases which are part of the composite materials consist of TiO₆, ZnO₄ and TeO₄ structural units. Using UV–Vis spectroscopy it was established that the absorption edge of the gels varied from 330 nm to 364 mm and the increase in TiO₂ content caused a red shifting of the cut-off. The calculated Eg values are in the range 3.41–3.75 eV higher than that of pure TiO₂, TeO₂ and ZnO oxides. The XPS results showed that the Te atoms in the surface layers of the samples studied exist in several chemical states as Te²⁺, Te⁰, but Te⁶⁺ dominates. Octahedrally coordinated Ti⁴⁺ ions are observed in the gels and in the samples annealed at 200 °C but a small amount of tetrahedrally coordinated Ti⁴⁺ is also detected, which indicates the incomplete polymerization of TiO₆ units.     

Photoreduction of Europium (III) in Sol-Gel Derived Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Materials

Eu²⁺-doped inorganic-organic hybrid materials, which are potentially suitable for a tunable laser in the near ultra violet and blue region, were prepared through the photoreduction of Eu³⁺ ions in the materials under the irradiation of the fourth harmonic wave light (266 nm) of the Nd:YAG laser. The hybrid materials doped with Eu³⁺ ions were prepared from Si(OCH₃)₄, CH₃Si(OCH₃)₃, EuCl₃ and chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTM). After the prehydrolized silica sol was added to the Eu³⁺-containing solution, Eu³⁺-doped transparent inorganic-organic hybrid material was obtained by drying at 50°C. The emission peak around 450–475 nm due to the charge transfer transition (5d-4f) of Eu²⁺ ions increased with the laser irradiation time. Eu³⁺ ions were effectively photoreduced to Eu²⁺ ions in pore-free materials prepared at high CPTM to Eu³⁺ ratios. Eu²⁺ ions were generated by the photodecomposition of the bond between Eu³⁺ and Cl (Cl^– or Cl(CH₂)₃ in CPTM).     

镍锌纳米晶铁氧体的络合溶胶-凝胶法合成及表征

利用乙酰丙酮(AcAcH)络合溶胶-凝胶法合成了Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4(NZFO)尖晶石型软磁铁氧体。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)技术研究了Fe、Zn、Ni 3种溶胶中AcAcH与Fe3+、Zn2+、Ni2+的结合形式,通过比较Fe、Zn、Ni溶胶与未添加AcAcH的Fe、Zn、Ni甲醇溶液的红外光谱发现,分别在1 532 cm-1、1 520 cm-1和1 520 cm-1处多了一个吸收峰,说明AcAcH都能与3种离子发生螯合反应。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、物性测量系统(PPMS)分别表征NZFO铁氧体的相组成、微结构以及磁性能。XRD测试结果表明,NZFO铁氧体为单一尖晶石相结构;HRTEM透射结果表明,NZFO为片状,大小均匀,尺寸45 nm左右;PPMS研究结果表明,NZFO铁氧体的饱和磁化强度(Ms)和矫顽力(Hc)分别为36 emu.g-1和167 Oe。     

Spin probe study of acidity of inorganic materials

Acidic characteristics of various inorganic materials, such as silica gel, aluminum, and titanium(IV) oxides, original and modified with F^? and SO ₄ ^2? ions, in the form of hydrogels and nanostructured powders doped by copper(II) ions, are studied. It is shown that pH values inside pores of the studied sorbents (pH_intr) differ from the pH of external solutions by 0.5–1.1 units. In the pores of original γ-Al₂O₃, the pH_intr values are higher, while, in pores of γ-Al₂O₃ samples modified with F^? и SO ₄ ^2? , as well as nonmodified α-Al₂O₃, SiO₂ gel, and TiO₂ hydrogels, pH_intr are lower compared to the pH of the external solution. It is found that pH_intr decreases, as the content of Cu²⁺ ions in the TiO₂ phase grows, and, beginning with a certain moment, it coincides with pH of an equilibrium solution. The pK _a values of functional group dissociation in some materials are determined. It is shown that, using spin probes, that is, pH-sensitive nitroxyl radicals, the electrostatic potential of the surface of nanostructured TiO₂ can be estimated.     

三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅的可控制备及表征

以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)胶晶为大孔模板、嵌段共聚物P123为介孔模板,利用双模板剂法进行了三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅材料的制备研究。采用SEM、TEM、低角XRD以及N₂吸脱附技术对样品进行了表征。结果表明,通过简单的调控PMMA胶晶模板的组装过程,就可以调变合成材料中的大孔结构,从而轻松地实现可控的制备出具有网状或者层状结构的三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅材料,并提出了其可能的形成机理。此外,所制备的三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅样品均具有较大的BET比表面积(>550m₂·g^-1),大孔孔径200nm左右,介孔孔径分布集中于3.5nm左右。     

Luminescence properties of sol-gel derived silica gels doped and undoped with RE-complexes(RE=Eu,Tb)

The luminescence properties of silica gels and silica gels doped with two rare earth complexes,Eu(TTA)3 and Tb(o-CBA)3 (TTA=thenoyltrifluocetate,o-CBA=o-chlorobenzoic acid) are reported and discussed.Pure silica gels show a blue luminescence,and the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths depend strongly on the solvents used.Both of the studied rare earth complexes exhibit the characteristic emissions of the rare earth ions in silica gels,i.e.,Eu3+5 Do→7 FJ(J=0,1,2,3,4),Tb3+5D4→7FJ(J=3,4,5,6) transitions.Compared with the pure RE-complexes powder,the silica gels doped with RE-complexes show fewer emission lines of the rare earth ions.Furthermore the rare earth ion (Tb3+) presents a longer lifetime (1346μs) in silica gel doped with Tb(o-CBA)3 than in pure Tb(o-CBA)3 powder (744μs).The reasons responsible for these results are discussed in the context.     

增强掺Tb凝胶玻璃荧光性能的有机螯合体的选择

采用原位合成技术, 用溶胶凝胶法制备了稀土离子(Tb^3＋), β-二酮及协同体共掺的二氧化硅玻璃, 测量了它们发射光谱和红外光谱, 并进行了XRD, SEM和TG-DSC测试. 探讨各不同成分原位合成稀土有机配合物在二氧化硅玻璃中的发光性能及热处理温度对发光性能的影响. 结果表明, 在凝胶玻璃中掺入能级较匹配的β-二酮, 可以使稀土离子的荧光增强; 合适的协同体的引用也能使稀土离子的荧光增强. 这些结果为今后制备荧光较强的含Tb离子的SiO₂凝胶玻璃提供了一定的依据.     

银纳米颗粒负载阶层多孔二氧化硅块体的制备及表征

以溶胶-凝胶伴随相分离法制备的阶层多孔二氧化硅作为载体,3-氨丙基三乙氧基硅烷（APTES）为改性剂,乙醇为还原剂,在阶层多孔二氧化硅固体骨架上进行银纳米颗粒均匀负载. 利用扫描电镜（SEM）、透射电镜（TEM）、X射线衍射（XRD）、汞压、N₂吸附/脱附、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）等测试技术对银纳米颗粒负载阶层多孔二氧化硅进行了表征,探讨了APTES表面改性、乙醇还原机理以及银纳米颗粒负载块体的孔结构特征变化规律. 结果表明：APTES表面改性将氨基接枝于阶层骨架上,氨基与银离子形成银氨离子,银氨离子经乙醇还原后将平均粒径约16 nm的银纳米颗粒成功负载于二氧化硅的大孔及介孔内部;负载后的阶层多孔块体的大孔骨架未受到破坏,但其比表面积由418 m²·g^-1下降到254 m²·g^-1,两次还原负载能提高银纳米颗粒的负载量.     

Thermal behavior of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mesoporous gels

Summary Titania-based photocatalytic materials were prepared by sol-gel method using Fe³⁺ and polyethyleneglycol (PEG₆₀₀) as additives. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and evolved gas analysis (EGA) with MS detection were used to elucidate processes that take place during heating of Fe³⁺ containing titania gels. The microstructure development of the Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ gel samples with and without PEG₆₀₀ admixtures was characterized by emanation thermal analysis (ETA) under in situ heating in air. A mathematical model was used for the evaluation of ETA results. Surface area and porosity measurements of the samples dried at 120&deg;C and the samples preheated for 1 h to 300 and 500&deg;C were compared. From the XRD measurements it was confirmed that the crystallization of anatase took place after thermal heating up to 600&deg;C.     

Red luminescence in MgO-GeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gel glasses and glass ceramics doped with Mn ions prepared by sol-gel method

To obtain red luminants, MgO-GeO₂ gel glasses and glass ceramics doped with manganese ions were prepared by a sol-gel method and their properties were investigated by measuring X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron spin resonance (ESR), and luminescence and excitation spectra. Under UV irradiation at 254 nm, the gel glasses and glass ceramics showed red luminescence at 620–665 nm, the intensity of which became strong with increasing the heat-treatment temperature. A glass ceramic with the composition 1.0MnO-25MgO-75GeO₂ heat treated at 1000°C exhibited the strongest red luminescence at 661 nm. From the results of XRD and ESR, this luminescence is found to be due to the transition from the ⁴T_1g to the ⁶A_1g state of octahedrally coordinated Mn²⁺ ions located in MgGeO₃ polycrystals. The luminescence wavelength of the glass ceramics (∼665 nm) is long compared with Eu³⁺-containing phosphors (612 nm), therefore the glass ceramics can be expected for red luminants.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Optical Studies of Rare Earth and Transition Metal Ions Doped Nanocrystalline Aluminum and Yttrium Oxides

The paper reviews the studies of sol-gel produced nanocrystalline -Al₂O₃ and cubic Y₂O₃ doped with RE³⁺ and TM³⁺ ions. The effects of spatial confinement (on nanometer scale) in optical properties of sol-gel produced insulating nanocrystalline oxide materials doped with rare earth and transition metal ions are discussed. The experimental studies showed that in insulators these effects are mostly connected with the changes in the vibrational spectrum and the increased role of the surface in nanocrystals. The transformations between the crystalline forms of Al₂O₃ and the properties of doped corundum ceramics are studied. The methods of sol-gel synthesis of highly dispersed nanocrystalline -Al₂O₃ and cubic Y₂O₃ doped with RE³⁺ and TM³⁺ ions in wide range of concentrations are described. It is shown that optical techniques are useful for characterization of sol-gel produced materials.     

Energy Transfer Between Eu3+ Ions and CdS Quantum Dots in Sol-Gel Derived CdS/SiO2 : Eu3+ Gel

We have investigated the energetic correlation between rare-earth ions and semiconductor nanocrystals, using europium ion (Eu³⁺) doped silica (SiO₂) gel with adsorbed cadmium sulfide (CdS) particles. Samples were prepared by a sol-gel technique, in which several methods for the precipitation of CdS colloids were attempted. The fluorescence intensities were compared for different gels, with and without CdS particles. The intrinsic emission lines due to ⁵D₀ ⁷F_J(J = 0–4) transitions of Eu³⁺ were observed, which were enhanced for 24 h-immersed gel (dried at 50°C). From the results on the decay dynamics of fluorescence, we proposed the model that surface-trapped electrons on CdS particles nonradiatively excited 4f electrons in Eu³⁺ ions due to an energy transfer process.     

Nanometer titanium dioxide immobilized on silica gel as sorbent for preconcentration of metal ions prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Nanometer titanium dioxide immobilized on silica gel (immobilized nanometer TiO₂) was prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorptive potential of immobilized nanometer TiO₂ for the preconcentration of trace Cd, Cr, Cu and Mn was assessed in this work. The metal ions studied can be quantitative retained at a pH range of 8-9, and 0.5 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ was sufficient for complete elution. The adsorption capacity of immobilized nanometer TiO₂ for Cd, Cr, Cu and Mn was found to be 2.93, 2.11, 6.69 and 2.47 mg g⁻¹, respectively. A new method using a microcolumn packed with immobilized nanometer TiO₂ as sorbent has been developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of Cd, Cr, Cu and Mn prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The method has been successfully applied for the determination of trace elements in some environmental samples with satisfactory results.