Sol-Gel Processing and Luminescent Properties of Rare-Earth Oxyfluoride Materials

Luminescent rare-earth oxyfluoride materials were prepared by a sol-gel method using trifluoroacetic acid as a fluorine source. Crystalline (La, Eu)OF powders and thin films were obtained by heating gels at typically 600–800°C. Transparent SiO₂-LaOF glass-ceramic thin films were also prepared by mixing the trifluoroacetate sols and silica sols, spin-coating on silica glass substrates and heating at temperatures 600–900°C. Eu³⁺ ions doped in the oxyfluoride materials exhibited a strong red ⁵D₀ ⁷F₂ emission (611 nm) by a charge-transfer (O^2–-Eu³⁺) excitation with ultra-violet radiation (265 nm). It was strongly suggested that the Eu³⁺ activators were preferentially incorporated into the crystalline LaOF phase in the SiO₂-LaOF glass-ceramics.     

Radioluminescence of Europium(III) in POCl3–SnCl4–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+, and D2O–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+ Solutions

Results of studying the spectral and luminescent properties of Eu³⁺ ions upon homogeneous excitation of POCl₃–SnCl₄–^-UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–²³⁵UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions by -particles are presented. It was found that the radioluminescence intensity of Eu³⁺ ions in both solvents increases proportionally to the energy input by -particles. The yield of radioluminescence photons from europium ions in the POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions is more than nine times as high as that in D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺. The radiation-chemical yields of excited ⁵ D ₀ states of Eu³⁺ ions are 0.74 ± 0.07 and 0.18 ± 0.02 ions/100 eV in POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions, respectively.     

Determination of trace europium(III) based on a new fluorescence enhancement system of europium(III) with N,N′-<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(4-N-aminothiourea-2-amylidene)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone by EDTA or alumin in N,N-dimethylformamide

A new bis-Schiff base ligand, N,N-bis-(4-N-aminothiourea-2-amylidene)-4,4-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (ARADS), was synthesized. The solutions of its complex with Eu³⁺ in DMF can emit the intrinsic fluorescence of Eu³⁺. The fluorescence intensity of the complex was enhanced 20–30-fold in the presence of EDTA (or alum). The influence of seven kinds of solvents (DMF, CH₃CN, THF, acetone, CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH, and DMSO) on the intensity of fluorescence was studied. The results showed that the Eu³⁺-ARADS-EDTA (or alum) system emits its strongest fluorescence in DMF. Thus, the system can be used to develop a new method for the determination of europium(III). The excitation and emission wavelengths are 395 and 615 nm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensities vary linearly with the concentration of Eu³⁺ in the range 6.0 × 10^–10–5.2 × 10^–5 mol/L, with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10^–10 mol/L. The interference from some rare earth metals and other inorganic ions are described. The method is a selective, sensitive, rapid, and simple analytical procedure for the determination of europium(III) in high-purity yttrium oxide and synthetic samples. The mechanism of fluorescence enhancement was also studied.__________From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 4, 2005, pp. 372–377.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Tianlin Yang, Wenwu Qin, and Weisheng Liu.The article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Reddish-orange,neutral and warm white emissions in Eu3+, Dy3+ and Dy3+/Eu3+ doped CdO-GeO2-TeO2 glasses

Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺ and Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ doped CdO-GeO₂-TeO₂ glasses were prepared using the melt-quenching process and analyzed by X-diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, excitation and emission spectra, and emission decay time profiles. The lack of X ray diffraction peaks revealed that all samples are amorphous. Vibrational modes associated with TeOTe and GeOGe related bonds and molecular oxygen were detected by Raman spectroscopy. The luminescence characteristics were studied upon excitations that correspond with the emission of InGaN (370–420 nm) based LEDs. The Eu³⁺ singly doped glass displayed reddish-orange global emission, with x = 0.601 and y = 0.349 CIE1931 chromaticity coordinates, upon 393 nm excitation. Neutral emission with x = 0.373 and y = 0.412 CIE1931 chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4400 K, was achieved in the Dy³⁺ singly doped glass excited at 388 nm. The Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ co-doped glass exhibited warm, neutral and soft warm white emissions with CCT values of 3435, 4153 and 2740 K, under excitations at 382, 388 and 393 nm, respectively, depending mainly on the Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺ relative excitation. The Dy³⁺ excitation bands observed in the Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ glass by monitoring the 611 nm Eu³⁺ emission, suggest that Dy³⁺ → Eu³⁺ energy transfer takes place, despite the fact that the Dy³⁺ emission decays in the Dy³⁺ and Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ doped glass, remain without changes. The shortening of Eu³⁺ decay in presence of Dy³⁺ was attributed to an Eu³⁺ → Dy³⁺ non-radiative energy transfer process, which according with the Inokuti-Hirayama model might be dominated through an electric quadrupole-quadrupole interaction, with efficiency and probability of 5.5% and 51.6 s⁻¹, respectively.     

Textured PbTiO3, Pb(Ca)TiO3-Al2O3 Composite Films Prepared by Chemical Solution Deposition Method

Chemical solution deposition method (CSD) method was used to prepare PbTiO₃ (PT), Pb_{1– x} Ca _x TiO₃ (PCT), PbTiO₃-Al₂O₃ (PT-AL) and Pb_{1 – x} Ca _x TiO₃-Al₂O₃ (PCT-AL) thin films on amorphous (soda-lime glass, SiO₂ glass) substrates. The films were examined by XRD methods to describe the phase composition, cell parameters, type and degree of texture. In dependence on the molar ratio of Ti:Al, the different extent of crystallographic ordering was observed ranging from randomly oriented to strongly textured crystallites of PT. (100)uvw preferred orientation growth of PT grains was identified.     

Effect of the Excitation of the 4f Shell of Eu(fod)3 on the Formation of Complexes with 1,10-Phenanthroline

The effect of the electronic excitation of the -diketonate Eu(fod)₃ (fod is 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyloctanedione-3,5) on complexation with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in benzene solutions was studied. The excitation of the f–f transitions of Eu³⁺ increased the stability of the Eu(fod)₃ · phen complex, thus providing direct evidence for the involvement of the 4f shell of Eu³⁺ in chemical bonding. The thermodynamic parameters of complexation were determined. The temperature quenching of Eu(fod)₃ · phen luminescence was studied.     

Effect of Niobium Modifications to PZT (53/47) Thin Films Made by a Sol-Gel Route

Niobium-modified lead zirconate titanate thin films (PNZT) with nominal compositions, Pb_(1–0.5x) (Zr_0.53 Ti_0.47)_1–x Nb _x O₃:x = 0.02–0.07, have been prepared using a diol based sol-gel route. Single-layer (0.5 m) films were fabricated on platinised silicon substrates by spin-coating. The effect of niobium additions with regard to phase development, microstructure, and ferroelectric and dielectric properties were investigated for different annealing temperatures. For comparison, unmodified PZT films were also prepared. Niobium substitution increased the crystallisation temperatures for perovskite PNZT phase formation. The values of remanent polarisation P _r and dielectric constant _r were found to decrease with the introduction of Nb. For example, in films heated at 700°C for 15 min, the P _r value of an unmodified PZT film was 31 C cm^–2, compared to 17 C cm^–2 for an x = 0.05 PNZT film, whilst respective relative permittivity values fell from 1190 to 600. The highest Nb concentration film, x = 0.07, did not display any switchable polarisation characteristics, which is consistent with high levels of intermediate pyrochlore phase.     

Ion-molecular interactions and the equilibrium composition in the HCl-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane system according to IR spectroscopy data

Multiple Attenuated Total Reflectance (MATR) IR spectra of solutions of HCl in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (N-MP) (0–43.4 % HCl) were studied in the 900–4000 cm^–1 range. Spectra were recorded for theN-MP-HCl-1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) ternary system at a TCE N-MP ratio of 1 1. Depending on the ratio between the components, complexes of the compositionN-MP · HCl (C-1),N-MP · 2HCl (C-2), and 2N-MP · HCl (C-3) are formed in the system. Complex C-1 has a quasiionic structure, (CH₂)₃N(Me)CO...H...Cl, formed by a strong quasisymmetrical H-bond between the carbonyl O atom and the Cl atom. The addition of anN-MP molecule to complex C-1 yields complex C-3, in which the quasiionic character of the bond betweenN-MP and HCl is retained. When excess HCl is present, the quasiionic structure is destroyed, theN-MP molecule is protonated, and the Cl^– anion interacts with HCl to give an ion with a strong symmetrical H bond (Cl...H...Cl)^–. Complex C-2 is an ion pair.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1757–1763, September, 1995.This work was carried out with financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 93-03-18356).     

Electroconduction of Potassium Orthophosphate Modified with Triple-Charged Cations

Solid electrolytes in the systems K_{3 – 3x} Me _x PO₄ (Me = Sc, Y, In, La, Nd, Gd, Tb) are synthesized. Their phase composition and the temperature and concentration dependences of their electroconductivity are studied. In all the systems there form solid solutions based on K₃PO₄, which have a high potassium cation conductance. The latter is due to the formation of potassium vacancies at substitutions 3K⁺ Me³⁺ and, at lower temperatures, to stabilization of a high-temperature -modification of potassium orthophosphate. The electroconductivity of synthesized solid solutions, which equals (4–7) × 10^–3 and 10^–1 S cm^–1 at 300 and 700°C, is similar to that of solid electrolytes K_{3 – x} P_{1 – x} E _x ^VIO₄ and K_{3 – 4x} E _x ^IVPO₄.     

Structural, optical and thermal studies of Eu ions in lithium fluoroborate glasses

Borate glasses doped with trivalent europium were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique, in the chemical composition of (49.99-x)B₂O₃ + 25Li₂O + 25LiF+xEu₂O₃ by varying the concentration of the rare earth ion in the order 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2 and 3 wt% and their structural, luminescence and thermal behavior have been reported. The XRD and FTIR spectra reveal the glass structure and the functional groups. The UV–VIS, luminescence spectra and lifetime of the Eu³⁺ ions were measured. The local site symmetry around the Eu³⁺ ions were evaluated through the luminescence intensity ratio (R) of the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ transitions. Optical measurements have been carried out to explore the optical properties such as bonding parameters, Judd–Ofelt parameters, stimulated emission cross-section, transition probability, branching ratio, radiative lifetime, etc. The lifetime measurements of the ⁵D₀ level as a function of the concentration of Eu³⁺ ion have been found and is comparable to other reported for Eu³⁺ doped borate, phosphate glasses and higher than that for the tellurite glasses. The thermal properties such as glass transition, crystallization and melting temperatures of the Eu³⁺ glasses were studied through the DSC traces in the temperature range of 30−1200 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C per minute. The change in optical properties with the variation of Eu³⁺ ion concentration have been discussed and compared with similar results.     

Effect of the Measurement Temperature on the Dispersive Component of the Surface Free Energy of a Heat Treated SiO2 Xerogel

The surface free energy of a monolithic silica xerogel treated at 1000°C has been measured by inverse gas chromatography in the temperature range 25–150°C using n-alkanes. Values of the dispersive component, _S ^D, vary from 49.07 mJ·m^–2 at 25°C to 17.20 mJ·m^–2 at 150°C. The _S ^D value obtained at 25°C is lower than that found for amorphous and crystalline silicas but higher than that found for glass fibres meaning that the heat treatment at 1000°C changes drastically the structure of the silica xerogel showing a surface similar to a glass. However, the higher value of _S ^D in comparison to glass fibres can be attributed to the mesoporous structure present in the silica xerogel. In the temperature range of 60–90°C there exists an abrupt change of the _S ^D values as well as in the dispersive component of the surface enthalpy, h _S ^D. Such abrupt change can be attributed to an entropic contribution of the surface free energy.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Radiofrequency Absorption Investigations of Pr Substituted 1-2-3 Type Compounds

⁵⁷Fe and ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as RF susceptibility measurements were applied to study the effects of Pr substitution either into the rare earth or into the Ba site in Eu_1–x Pr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7– and EuBa_2–x Pr _x Cu₃O_7–, respectively. Site mixing of Pr between the rare earth and Ba sites could be excluded by the utilization of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was found that there exists a correlation between the ¹⁵¹Eu isomer shift and the onset temperature of the superconducting transition independent of the location of Pr. RF susceptibility measurements provide an evidence for a difference in the magnetic moment of Pr substituted for the Eu or Ba sites. The obtained results can be explained by hole filling as the dominant effect of Pr substitution.     

Physicochemical properties of electrode materials based on substituted yttrium manganite

Electrode materials Y_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_1–x (Co,Ni)_xO₃(x = 0–0.1) have an o-orthorhombic perovskite structure. Doping with transition metals raises the content of ions Mn⁴⁺ from 49% at x = 0 to 62% at x = 0.05 Ni. At 500–650 K there takes place an o-o-orthorhombic transition, with the thermal expansion coefficient rising from (7.1–8.1) × 10^–6 to (10.5–11) × 10^–6 K^–1. Composition Y_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_1–x (Co, Ni)_xO₃ is n-type semiconductor with a considerable oxygen constituent at >1000 K. Effect of the electrode material composition on the resistance parameter (/d) of an intermediate layer E/SE and on the polarization resistance (R ) of the triple-phase boundary E/SE/GP is similar. At 300–1100 K and 10²–10⁵ Pa, minimum values of these quantities are exhibited by samples with the Y_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.95Ni_0.05O₃ electrode layer 50 mg cm^–2 thick.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 291–297.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Tikhonova, Poluyan, Glushko, Vecher, Znosok.     

Ellipsometrical measurements on porous copper films

Summary Porous films are prepared by depositing copper onto glass substrates at 77 K. The structure of the films is characterized ellipsometrically (=632.8 nm) and by means of resistivity measurements. The measured dielectric function of the porous films is=–6.5 –4.6i, a value which deviates strongly from the corresponding value of bulk copper ( _m=–18 –1.6i). A quantitative evaluation on the basis of the EMA theory yields a void concentration of about 20%. In addition, the interaction of the films with oxygen is investigated. The gas tends to penetrate into the near-surface portion of the voids.

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Ellipsometrische Messungen an porösen Kupferschichten

     

Preparation and Characterization of TiO2 Thin Films by Sol-Gel Method

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films have been deposited on silicon and glass substrates by the sol-gel process using titanium iso-propoxide [Ti(O-i-C₃H₇)₄]. The bond configuration of the TiO₂ thin films was analyzed by using FTIR in the wavenumber range from 400 to 4000 cm^–1. The spectral transmittance of as-deposited TiO₂ films deposited on fused silica glass was measured in the wavelength range from 200 to 900 nm. X-ray diffraction measurements were performed to determine the crystallinity of the TiO₂ films. As-deposited films were amorphous. As the film was annealed at higher temperature, the structure was transformed from amorphous to the anatase crystalline state. The chemical composition of the deposited film was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The films are essentially stoichiometric with carbon as the dominant impurity on the surface. Raman spectra show the characteristic of TiO₂ anatase phase. The electrical properties of the TiO₂ films were measured using capacitance-voltage (C-V) and current-voltage techniques. From C-V measurements, the dielectric constants were calculated to be approximately 26 for the as-deposited films and 75–82 for films annealed at 700°C in different atmosphere. For the as-deposited samples, the breakdown voltage was 2.7 MV/cm, and for an electric field of 1 MV/cm, the leakage current was 5 × 10^–5 A/cm² and the resistivity was 2.2 × 10¹⁰ -cm.     

Analysis of Ti-N films by calibration of Ti X-ray spectra

Summary An energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of Ti_1–xN_x films was performed by using an Si(Li) detector. The Ti_1–xN_x films were sputtered on polished steel substrates in a mixed Ar+N₂ atmosphere by a reactive magnetron sputtering technique. Because the nitrogen X-ray line is absorbed by the Be window, an analysis method was developed based solely on the calibration of the characteristic Ti-K-intensities using a high-purity Ti standard. The film compositions were computed by means of a ZAF procedure. The samples closest to stoichiometric composition show maximum hardness.     

Spectral Hole-Burning in Femtosecond Laser-Irradiated Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-Doped Aluminosilicate Glasses

We studied the persistent spectral hole-burning (PSHB) of the Eu³⁺-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses, prepared by a sol–gel process, exposed to femtosecond laser pulses. The spectral holes were burned in the excitation spectra of the ⁷F₀⁵D₀ transition of Eu³⁺ ion. The depth and width of the burned holes were 15% and 2.5 cm^–1 fwhm at 7 K, respectively. The burned hole is stable up to room temperature. Fluorescence line narrowing spectra showed that Eu³⁺ ions were located in two different sites.     

UV-Visible and IR Spectroelectrochemical Properties of V2O5 Crystalline Films Charged/Discharged in Extended Potential Range

Electrochemical properties of amorphous and crystalline V₂O₅ films, dip-coated from V-oxoisopropoxide sols and thermally treated at various temperatures (100, 150, 200 and 300°C), have been studied in extended potential range, i.e. from 1.4 to –1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 1M LiClO₄/propylen carbonate (PC) electrolyte. The formation of various lithiated (-, -, - and -Li _x V₂O₅) phases was correlated with the values of insertion coefficient x obtained from cyclic voltammograms (CV) of crystalline V₂O₅ films (300°C). Reversible charging was observed when films were cycled up to –1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, while the extension of the potential to –1.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl change the CV of films irreversibly. Charging of crystalline V₂O₅ films was followed by the help of in-situ UV-visible spectroscopy, that revealed the intensity variations of the polaron absorption above 600 nm and the presence of the absorbing V³⁺ species between 550 and 650 nm. Ex-situ IR spectra of the crystalline films charged/discharged at –1.6V/1.4V vs. Ag/AgCl confirmed the amorphisation of the films' structure.     

New water-soluble and film-forming aminocellulose tosylates as enzyme support matrices with Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-chelating properties

Within the framework of our studies on enzyme-compatible support matrix structures, we succeeded in making further derivatives of the new aminocellulose type P–CH₂–NH–(X)–NH₂ (P = cellulose); (X) = –(CH₂)₂– (EDA), –(CH₂)₂–NH–(CH₂)₂– (DETA), –(CH₂)₃–NH–(CH₂)₃– (DPTA), –(CH₂)₂–NH–(CH₂)₂–NH–(CH₂)₂– (TETA) accessible by nucleophilic substitution reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA) and selected oligoamines starting from 6(2)-O-tosylcellulose tosylate (DS_tosylate = 0.8). The ¹³C-NMR data show that the EDA and oligoamine residues are at C6 of the anhydroglucose unit (AGU) and that OH and tosylate are also (partially) present at C6. OH and partially tosylate are at C2/C3. All the synthesized aminocellulose tosylates were soluble in water and formed transparent films from their solutions. The aminocellulose tosylate solutions and the films prepared from them formed blue-coloured chelate complexes with Cu²⁺ ions, whose absorption maxima at wavelengths in the VIS region were located similarly to those of the Cu²⁺ chelate complexes with EDA and with the oligoamines. AFM investigations have shown that the aminocellulose films, depending on structural and environment-induced factors influencing e.g. SiO₂ polymer films, exhibit flat topographies (<1 nm), and on protonated NH₂ polymer films, such as aminopropyl-functionalized polysiloxane films, nanostructured topographies of derivative-dependent shape and nanostructure size as film supports in the form of nanotubes. The aminocellulose films could be covalently coupled with glucose oxidase enzyme by various known and novel bifunctional reactions via NH₂-reactive compounds. In this connection, it was confirmed again that the immobilized enzyme parameters, such as enzyme activity/area and K_M value, can be changed by the interplay of aminocellulose film, coupling structure and enzyme protein in the sense of an application-relevant optimization.     

Facile synthesis of ordered magnetic mesoporous gamma-Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites with diverse mesostructures

On the basis of a sol–gel process, a facile, low cost, and one-step approach for preparing ordered magnetic mesoporous γ-Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ nanocomposites by an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) approach is presented. Various mesostructured silica materials (P6mm or Im3m) incorporated with different amounts of iron oxide (n_Si/n_Fe=9/1, 8/2, 7/3, respectively) were synthesized and characterized by XRD, TEM, N₂-sorption analyses, and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The HCl-leaching experiments together with TEM micrographs and nitrogen sorption analysis suggested that most of the γ-Fe₂O₃ domains of several nanometers were embedded in the silica walls, rather than dispersed in the mesopores, which could cause the significant pore clogging reported in some studies. The release behaviors of lysozyme from these magnetic porous nanocomposites were investigated for the possible application of drug targeting and control release. The influence of iron precursors was also studied and a possible mechanism was proposed. The hydrolysis of Fe³⁺ ions under weakly acidic conditions and the induced formation of SiOFe bonds may account for the synthesis of this kind of nanocomposite. These multifunctional nanostructured materials would have a wide range of applications in toxin removal, catalysis, waste remediation, and biological separation as well as novel drug-carrier technologies.