Luminescence spectra of stilbene-3 doped lead-tin-fluorophosphate glass excited by VUV-UV synchrotron radiation

The stilbene-3 doped lead-tin-fluorophosphate glasses were successfully prepared and the luminescence spectra obtained from VUV-UV synchrotron radiation were investigated. The emission peaked about 440 nm from the undoped glass is observed at low temperature but quenches at room temperature. The doped glass exhibits strong characteristic emission of stilbenen-3 with 467 and 436 nm Gaussian bands under ultraviolet 250-330 nm excitation (characteristic excitation of stilbene-3) but weak emission under vacuum ultraviolet 190 nm excitation (host excitation). It is suggested that the energy transfer from host to the stilbene-3 dye can occur but the efficiency is still fairly low.     

Size and viscoelasticity of spatially confined multilamellar vesicles

We studied viscoelastic properties and scaling behavior of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) confined between two parallel plates as a function of the shear rate and sample thickness (gap size between parallel plates). The rheological properties are classified into two regimes; the shear-thinning regime at high shear rates and the shear-thickening regime at low shear rates. In the former, the MLV radius results from the mechanical balance between the effective surface tension σ_eff and viscous stress force. The MLV radius is independent of the gap size. σ_eff estimated by van der Linden model is 2.1 ±0.15 ×10^-4 Nm^-1 corresponding to the same value obtained by SANS measurement. Power law exponents for the steady state viscosity and yield stress against pre-shear rate ( , ) well agree with prediction based on the layering of membranes. Therefore, viscoelastic properties in this regime could be modeled by assuming that the dynamics of MLVs are driven by layering of MLV polydomains, which could be accompanied by the viscous dissipation, i.e., the stress relaxation on the MLV, induced by continuous sequence of yields of MLVs. The flow curve is empirically explained by the assumption of a relaxation time for the MLV shape. In the latter, however, scaling laws observed in the shear-thinning regime break down. The MLV radius increases when the gap size is reduced below the threshold value and MLV is no longer formed at very small gap sizes. Different dynamics from the shear-thinning regime seem to dominate the viscoelasticity.     

Vorticity banding during the lamellar-to-onion transition in a lyotropic surfactant solution in shear flow

We report on the rheology of a lyotropic lamellar surfactant solution (SDS/dodecane/pentanol/ water), and identify a discontinuous transition between two shear thinning regimes which correspond to the low-stress lamellar phase and the more viscous shear-induced multilamellar vesicle, or “onion” phase. We study in detail the flow curve, stress as a function of shear rate, during the transition region, and present evidence that the region consists of a shear-banded phase where the material has macroscopically separated into bands of lamellae and onions stacked in the vorticity direction. We infer very slow and irregular transformations from lamellae to onions as the stress is increased through the two-phase region, and identify distinct events consistent with the nucleation of small fractions of onions that coexist with sheared lamellae.     

The role of the amorphous fraction for the equilibrium shape of polymer single crystals

The equilibrium state of polymer single crystals is considered by explicitly taking into account the amorphous fraction formed by loops and tails of the chains using a statistical model introduced by Muthukumar (Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 361, 539 (2003)). We show that under realistic conditions below the equilibrium melting temperature, tight loops and close re-entries are favored, and that the amorphous fraction can be mapped into an excess surface free energy. The model is extended to many-chain crystals where it is shown that the lamellar thickness increases with the number of chains in the crystal and extended-chain conformations are thermodynamically favored if the number of chains in the crystal is sufficiently large. The number of chains necessary to form an extended-chain crystal in thermodynamic equilibrium scales with the square of the degree of polymerization of the chains. We discuss the temperature behavior of the equilibrium crystal thickness in the under-cooled state.     

Long lifetime and efficient emission from Er ions coupled to Si nanoclusters in Si-rich SiO2 layers

Reactive magnetron co-sputtering of two confocal SiO₂ and Er₂O₃ cathodes in argon-hydrogen plasma was used to deposit Er-doped Si-rich SiO₂ layers. The effects of the deposition conditions (such as RF power applied on each cathode and total plasma pressure) and annealing treatment (temperature and duration) on structural, compositional and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the layers were examined. It was found that a significant enhancement of both Er³⁺ PL intensity and emission lifetime up to 9 ms have been reached through monitoring of the conditions of both deposition process and annealing treatment. The effective absorption cross section and the fraction of Er ions coupled to Si clusters were analyzed. It was shown an increase of the fraction of Er³⁺ ions coupled to Si up to 11%.     

Effect of Cd and Pb impurities on the optical properties of?fresh?evaporated amorphous (As2Se3)90Ge10 thin films

Transmission spectra (400–1500 nm) of thermally evaporated amorphous [(As₂Se₃)₉₀Ge₁₀]₉₅M₅ thin films have been analyzed to study the effect of impurities (M = Cd and Pb) on their optical properties. The refractive index increases with addition of metal impurities. The dispersion of refractive index has been studied using Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model. The optical gap has been estimated using Tauc’s extrapolation and was found to decrease with the addition of metal impurities from 1.46 to 1.36 eV (Cd) and 1.41 eV (Pb) with an uncertainty of ±0.01 eV. The change in optical properties with metal impurities has been explained on the basis of density, polarizability and bond energy of the system.     

Cooperative downconversion and near-infrared luminescence of Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> codoped lanthanum borogermanate glasses

In the present paper, we investigate the near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of Tb³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped lanthanum borogermanate (LBG) glasses under visible and ultraviolet light excitation. The results indicate that NIR quantum cutting occurs through cooperative energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Yb³⁺ ions when only 4f ⁸ levels of Tb³⁺ ions are excited in the wavelength region of 300–490 nm. The highest quantum efficiency under the excitation ⁵ D ₄ level of Tb³⁺ at 484 nm is 146%. Ultraviolet excitation that populates the charge transfer band (CTB) of Yb³⁺ near 270 nm does not result in quantum cutting as the fast nonradiative decay from CTB to ² F _5/2 level dominates. These materials are expected to be used as a converting layer for silicon solar cells to enhance their efficiency by splitting each high-energy photon into two NIR photons.     

ZnO–CuO core–shell nanorods and CuO-nanoparticle–ZnO-nanorod integrated structures

ZnO–CuO core–shell nanorods and CuO-nanoparticle–ZnO-nanorod integrated structures were synthesized for the first time by a two-stage solution process. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy show that the diameter and the length of the nanorods are around 60 and 800 nm, respectively. The morphologies of outer CuO could be varied from nanoparticles to nanoshells by adjusting the solvent and dipping processes of copper (II) nitrate solution. The CuO nanoparticles are single-crystalline or highly textured structures with size of around 30 nm. The CuO shell with thickness of around 10 nm is constructed of nanocrystals with sizes in the range of 3–10 nm embedded in an amorphous matrix. Room-temperature cathodoluminescence measurements of the CuO–ZnO nanocomposites exhibit relatively sharp ultraviolet emissions at 380 nm as well as broad green and yellow emissions at 500 and 585 nm. The p-CuO/n-ZnO one-dimensional nanocomposites are promising for optoelectronic nanodevice applications.     

Upconversion emission in Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped lead niobium germanate thin-film glasses produced by pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of Er³⁺-doped lead–niobium germanate have been produced by pulsed laser deposition from Er³⁺-doped 25PbO₂–25Nb₂O₅–50GeO₂ (mol%) transparent glasses with an Er content in the range 0.5–3 wt%. The room-temperature infrared to visible upconversion properties of these thin films have been investigated under 800-nm laser excitation. An energy transfer upconversion mechanism has been identified to be responsible for the population of the ⁴S_3/2:²H_11/2 excited level, from which an intense green emission occurs. A rate equation analysis supports the proposed mechanism.