Photophysics of RbCl co-doped with Eu2+ and Eu3+

Excitation and luminescence spectra of RbCl co-doped with divalent and trivalent europium ions are reported. Spectral dips appearing in the blue emission from Eu²⁺ are resulted from the radiative energy transfer from Eu²⁺ to Eu³⁺ and consequently induces the luminescence from Eu³⁺ that is responsible for the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions. The induced luminescence has been characterized as a function of temperature and a decay time. In addition, the polarized emission from RbCl doped with only Eu²⁺ is also reported.     

Photoluminescence and Energy Transfer Study of Eu3+ Codoped with CdS Nanoparticles in Silica Glass

The CdS nanoparticles along with Eu³⁺ ions were embedded in silica xerogel by sol gel technique. The samples were studied by TGA, DTA and fluorescence techniques. The result suggested that doping of CdS nanoparticles enhanced the luminescence properties of Eu³⁺ even in the gel stage itself and this avoids the need of heating gel at higher temperature. The effects of CdS nanoparticles on the Eu³⁺ luminescence were discussed.     

The crystallinity and the photoluminescent properties of spray pyrolized ZnO phosphor containing Eu and Eu ions

A europium doped ZnO (ZnO:Eu) particle was directly synthesized by the spray pyrolysis method. The crystal structure of samples was designated by the europium ion and the synthesis temperature. We identified the coexistence of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in the as prepared ZnO, which was strongly influenced by the doping concentration and the synthesis temperature. With addition of a 0.5 mol% concentration of europium ions, only the Eu²⁺ ion existed in particles, while both Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions existed in sample using 1 mol% or higher concentration of europium ions. Changing the wavelength of the excitation source, we also found that both the blue and red luminescence can be obtained.     

Europium doped strontium borate glasses and their optical properties

Optical absorption and luminescence spectra of europium doped strontium borate glasses prepared in different conditions are studied. It is found that the percentage of Eu³⁺ ions varies from 100 to 30% being controlled by the conditions of preparation. The mechanism, favoring reduction of europium to Eu²⁺ state in polycrystalline strontium tetraborate, is much weaker in glasses of the same composition. In samples containing mixed valence europium at densities of 8×10²⁰ cm⁻³, the efficient transfer of optical excitation from Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺, suppressing the Eu³⁺ luminescence, has been found. The most reliable way of monitoring the percentage of europium ions in different valences for strontium borate glasses is the measuring of absorption at f-f transition ⁷F₀→⁵D₂ of Eu³⁺.     

Europium luminescence in fluorite upon high-energy excitation

The reflection and luminescence excitation spectra of CaF₂ crystals containing europium ions in divalent (Eu²⁺) and trivalent (Eu³⁺) states were measured in the range from 4 to 16 eV. It was established that, in CaF₂ : Eu³⁺ crystals, luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions (the f-f transitions) is effectively excited both in the charge-transfer band (at ～8 eV) and in the region of the 4f–5d transitions (at ～10 eV) but is virtually not excited in the fundamental region of the crystal (at an energy higher than 10.5 eV). Luminescence of Eu²⁺ ions (the 427-nm band) in CaF₂ : Eu³⁺ is effectively excited in the fundamental region of the crystal; i.e., luminescence of divalent europium ions occurs through the trapping mechanism. Emission of Eu²⁺ ions in CaF₂ : Eu²⁺ crystals is characterized by the excitation band at an energy of 5.6 eV (the 4f → 5d,t _2g transitions), as well as by the exciton and interband luminescence excitations. The results obtained and data available in the literature are used to construct the energy level diagram with the basic electron transitions in the CaF₂ : Eu crystals.     

Enhanced UV-excited luminescence of europium ions in silver/tin-doped glass

Glasses containing silver, tin and europium were prepared by the melt-quenching technique with silver nanoparticles (NPs) being embedded upon heat treatment (HT). An intensification of Eu³⁺ ions emission was observed for non-resonant excitation around 270 nm, corresponding to UV absorption in the material. Optical measurements suggest that light absorption occurs at single Ag⁺ ions and/or twofold-coordinated Sn centers followed by energy transfer to europium which results in populating the ⁵D₀ emitting state in Eu³⁺. After HT at 843 K, a quenching effect is observed on Eu³⁺ luminescence with increasing holding time in the 350–550 nm excitation range. The quenching effect shows with the presence of Ag NPs which may provide multipole radiationless pathways for excitation energy loss in europium ions.     

Interaction of Sb ions with Eu ions during the room temperature synthesis of luminescent Sb2O3 nanorods: Probed through Eu luminescence

The interaction of Eu³⁺ with Sb³⁺ ions during the room temperature synthesis of luminescent Sb₂O₃ nanorods is investigated using luminescence and vibrational spectroscopic techniques. Our results demonstrate that well crystalline, oriented Sb₂O₃ nanorods having length of around 3-4 μm, a width of around 100-200 nm and luminescence at around 390 nm can be synthesized at room temperature. Incorporation of Eu³⁺ in these nanorods has been attempted and it is found that Eu³⁺ ions do not have any interaction with nanorods and their orientation. Detailed Eu³⁺ luminescence and XRD studies confirmed that a part of Sb³⁺ ions reacts with Eu³⁺ ions in the presence of hydroxyl ions (present in the medium) to form an amorphous antimony europium hydroxide compound. The amorphous compound on heating at high temperatures leads to its decomposition, giving hydrated Sb(V) oxides and Eu₂O₃ as major phases.     

Luminescence of YAG doped with Eu,Yb, and Mn ions under VUV excitation

Hydrothermal synthesis has been successfully used to obtain fine-crystalline powders of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with manganese ions and codoped with cerium and manganese ions. Using the method of high-temperature solid-state synthesis, ceramic specimens of YAG that contain europium and ytterbium ions have been obtained. In synthesized YAG:Eu and YAG:Yb ceramics, no luminescence that can be attributed to 5d-4f transitions in Eu²⁺ or Yb²⁺ ions has been detected, even though the scheme of energy levels of these ions constructed with respect to YAG energy bands indicates that there is a potential possibility of the occurrence of 5d-4f luminescence for Eu²⁺ ions in YAG. At room temperature, the luminescence spectrum of hydrothermally synthesized YAG doped with manganese ions consists of two broad bands with maxima at ～600 and ～750 nm and does not contain any narrow bands in the red or IR range. Therefore, the spectrum contradicts to the properties of the luminescence of Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, or Mn⁴⁺ ions in YAG described in the literature, even though the obtained hydrothermal specimens can contain noticeable concentrations only of Mn³⁺ ions.     

Study on relationship of luminescence in CaS:Eu,Sm and dopants concentration

In order to study different characteristic luminescence of Eu²⁺ and Sm³⁺, delayed photoluminescence (DPL) and infrared stimulated luminescence (ISL) spectra of CaS doped with europium and samarium have been investigated. The influence of Eu and Sm concentration on luminescence of Eu²⁺ in photoluminescence (PL) and ISL was respectively studied. It was found that, at low doping levels, PL emission intensity of Eu²⁺ increased linearly with increment of Eu, while decreased linearly with increment of Sm. However, further increment of Eu and Sm in CaS:Eu,Sm could not increase either the luminescent centres of Eu²⁺ or electron trapping sites of Sm³⁺. Different local environment of Eu²⁺ and Sm³⁺ in the lattice position is thought to be the cause of all observed luminescence phenomena. Finally, the maximum emission in ISL was obtained at 1000 ppm europium and 750 ppm samarium.     

Luminescence efficiency of aromatic carboxylates of europium and terbium when methylene bridges and nitro groups are present in the ligands

We discuss the possibility of optimizing the brightness of luminescence for phenylcarboxylates, naphthylcarboxylates, and indolylcarboxylates of europium and terbium and their adducts with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine by modifying the ligands. We have studied the efficiency of luminescence and luminescence excitation. We consider the effect of blocking energy transfer from the ligands to the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions by methylene (-CH₂-) bridges dividing the π-electron system of the ligands into two parts and by the electronacceptor nitro group (-NO₂). We have analyzed the pathways for transfer and degradation of the excitation energy at 77 K and 300 K. From the phosphorescence spectra of gadolinium salts, we have determined the energies of the lowest excited triplet states of the ligands. We consider the effect of the relative positions of the triplet levels of the ligands and the excited levels of the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions on the luminescence efficiency. We found channels for dissipation of the excitation energy via the ππ* and nπ* states of the aromatic system of the carboxylate and the NO₂ group. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 48–54, January–February, 2007.     

Luminescence decay kinetics of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in phosphate glasses of different composition under photo- and electron excitations

The influence of matrix composition, coactivators, and excitation method on the luminescence kinetics of Eu³⁺ ions in lithium–phosphate and lithium–phosphate–borate glasses activated by Eu, Eu/Tb, and Eu/Dy is studied. Luminescence is excited by a high current electron beam and a xenon lamp. It is found that, under photoexcitation, the europium luminescence decays more slowly than under electronic excitation. Depending on the content of cation modifiers ZnO and Li₂O, the decay time decreases with increasing amount of ZnO. The decay time weakly depends on the europium concentration. The decay of the luminescence of europium ions is well described by the Inokuti–Hirayama model.     

Investigation of the influence of silver and tin on the luminescence of trivalent europium ions in glass

Europium-doped aluminophosphate glasses prepared by the melt-quenching technique have been studied by photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of silver and tin doping, and of further thermal processing on Eu³⁺ ions luminescence have been assessed. For the glass system containing only europium, Eu³⁺ PL observed under UV excitation is suggested to occur through energy transfer from the excited glass host. After silver and tin doping, an enhanced UV excited Eu³⁺ PL has been indicated to occur essentially due to radiative energy transfer from isolated Ag⁺ ions and/or two fold-coordinated Sn centers. Since thermal processing of the material leads to a quenching effect on Eu³⁺ PL and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) formation due to reduction of silver ions by tin, XPS was employed in order to investigate the possibility for Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ reduction during HT as a potential source of the PL decrease. The data points towards Ag NPs as main responsible for the observed weakening of Eu³⁺ PL.     

Spectral Optical Properties of Polymer Composite Nanomaterials Based on Carbon Nanotubes in a High-Density Polyethylene Matrix

Spectral, kinetic, and nonlinear optical regularities that demonstrate the exchange of electronic excitations between the components of hybrid associates of Ag₂S colloid quantum dots (1.7–1.8 nm) in gelatin with molecules of thiazine dyes (Ds) are found. When the IR luminescence of Ag₂S quantum dots (QDs) is excited by radiation from the thionine absorption region, its enhancement due to nonradiative resonant energy transfer is observed. The association with methylene-blue molecules blocked the IR luminescence of Ag₂S QDs upon its excitation by radiation from the absorption region of the dye due to the transfer of charge carriers. It is demonstrated that the hybrid association of thionine molecules and Ag₂S QDs adversely affects the nonlinear optical properties of the latter, which manifests itself in inverse saturated absorption by the action of 10-ns second-harmonic pulses (532 nm) of a Nd³⁺:YAG laser. For the associates of Ag₂S QDs with methylene-blue molecules, the radiation focusing caused by the transfer of charge carriers from the dye and the change in the population of small traps in nanocrystals is found. It is concluded that the direction of the transfer of electronic excitations and the photophysical processes in these objects are determined by the mutual arrangement of the HOMO–LUMO levels of the dye with respect to the levels of dimensional quantization of the Ag₂S QDs.     

Energy transfer and photoextinction from Ln to Tb and Eu in aqueous chloride solutions

Energy transfer and photoextinction from Ln³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in aqueous chloride solutions were studied by absorption, emission and excitation spectra. The energy gaps below the luminescent terms of Gd³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ are spanned by 10, 5 and 4 quanta, respectively, of the highest energy vibration in aqueous solution, and luminescence is observed in each case. This is not so for other Ln³⁺ where nonradiative deactivation dominates over luminescence. It was verified that only Gd³⁺ could transfer energy to Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in aqueous or acid solutions. The ions Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ exhibited strong competitive absorption at certain wavelengths, resulting in the photoextinction of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ emission.     

Photoluminescence properties of europium-doped porous silicon nanocomposites

We present new results concerning the photoluminescence properties of europium (Eu³⁺) incorporated in porous silicon (PS) matrix. Eu³⁺ ions were embedded in the matrix by simple impregnation of PS layers in chloride solution of europium. Complete and uniform penetration of Eu³⁺ into the pores is proved from RBS study.The PL spectrum shows the existence of several peaks superposed to the PL band of PS. These peaks are related to level transitions in Eu³⁺. The effect of the ray excitation on the PL shows that energy transfer is not the principal route for radiative recombination.A systematic study of the PL versus annealing temperature was performed. It was found that the optimised PL spectrum is found after annealing at 1000°C. Low-temperature study of the PL shows an important increase of the intensity and a broadness of the peaks due to the appearance of a second crystallographic site.     

Spontaneous luminescence of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in porous Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanospheres

A study of the luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions in Y₂O₃ nanospheres indicates a significant influence of the porous structure of nanoparticles on the luminescence of dopant ions. It is shown that filling the nanopores of initially porous Y₂O₃ nanospheres shortens the decay time of the spontaneous luminescence of doping europium ions. The change in the decay time is associated with the change in the effective refractive index of the porous nanospheres.     

Luminescence of yttrium niobium-tantalate doubly activated by europium and/or terbium under X-ray and electron beam excitation

This paper reports the luminescence emission spectra of Y(Ta,Nb)O₄ activated by rare earth ions such as Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. The influence of these rare earth ions on the luminescence of yttrium niobium-tantalate phosphors was investigated. The luminescent properties were studied under X-ray and electron beam excitations. Under these excitations, the emission centers of the rare earth activators (Eu³⁺,Tb³⁺) were found to contribute efficiently to the overall luminescence. Changing the mol concentration of the incorporated activators resulted in a broad variation of visible photoluminescence. Color cathodoluminescence images showed clearly the dependence of chromaticity on the different activators. With their various luminescence chromaticities, these rare earth activated phosphors are promising materials for solid-state lighting applications as well as for X-ray intensifying screens in medical diagnosis, providing a broad variation of visible photoluminescence from blue to red.     

Synthesis and characterization of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid capped and europium doped CdS nanoparticles

We present a novel two-step chemical synthesis route to produce of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) capped and europium doped CdS nanoparticles. First EDTA was applied to chelate with cadmium on the surface of cadmium-rich CdS nanoparticles and act as a capping agent. Further, the purified EDTA-capped particles were used to bind with Eu³⁺. The purified and redispersed particles were characterized by UV/vis absorption, photoluminescence, TEM and SEM. It was observed that Eu³⁺ on the nanoparticle surface significantly increased the band gap emission intensity of the CdS nanoparticles.     

Variation in the Luminescence Lifetimes of Eucl3·nH2O(N=0,L,2,3,6)

Eu³⁺ ion emission spectra and luminescence lifetimes were investigated for EuCl₃ -nH₂O (n=0,1,2,3,6). Each compound exhibited a characteristic set of emission bands and a specific luminescence lifetime. The number of water molecules and chloride ions coordinated to the Eu³⁺ ion in these materials was estimated from the observed lifetimes, spectroscopic implications, and expected lanthanide coordination numbers. Approximation of the observed luminescence decay constant for each material was possible through the use of arithmetic terms associated with both the complexed water molecules and the complexed chloride ions which make up the inner-coordination sphere of the Eu³⁺ ion.     

Understanding the role of particle size on photophysical properties of CdS:Eu nanocrystals

Here, we report the role of particle size on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of CdS:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals by steady-state and time-resolved PL spectroscopy. It is found that the average decay time 〈τ〉 of undoped CdS nanocrystals increases with increasing the size. The fast component (nanosecond) is assigned due to trapping and slow component (above 10 ns) is due to defect-related emission. The decrease of fast component from 6.6 to 1.32 ns and the slow component from 20 to 14.6 ns of CdS (host) is observed in presence of Eu ions, indicating that the energy transfer occurs from CdS nanoparticles to Eu³⁺ ions. The decay time of Eu³⁺ in CdS shows two decay components (microsecond scale) and we believe that the fast component is attributed to surface-bound Eu³⁺ ions and slow component is due to lattice-bound Eu³⁺ ions. Analysis suggests that PL efficiency of Eu³⁺ ions depends on size of nanoparticles.