UP-conversion of terahertz radiation induced by photon drag effect

An all-optical approach to convert terahertz radiation (THz, wavelength λ₁) into infrared (IR, peak wavelength λ₂) is presented. We show that this up-conversion process is due to the photon drag effect induced by the THz radiation in intrinsic narrow-gap semiconductors followed by spatial redistribution of current carriers and band-to-band radiative recombination. The process results in non-selective high-speed (ns range rise/fall times) IR imaging of positive (conventional luminescence) and/or negative (negative luminescence) contrasts. Estimates made for an InSb pixelless converter at 300 K and moderate THz intensity (kW/cm²) show that this up-conversion process (with λ₁/λ₂>10²) can be observed with a conventional thermal imaging camera.     

纳米NaYF4:Yb,Ho上转换荧光粉的合成及其性质研究

以EDTA为螯合剂,采用络合共沉淀法合成了纳米级镱、钬共掺杂的氟化钇钠上转换荧光材料.所合成的纳米材料颗粒均匀,分散性好.通过调节EDTA的加入量,可在41～148nm范围内调控纳米颗粒的大小.在980nm红外激光器照射下,肉眼可观察到明亮的上转换荧光,对发光机理进行了探讨.     

Two color up-conversion emissions of Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders prepared by non-aqueous sol-gel method

Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders have been prepared by the non-aqueous sol-gel method using the aluminum isopropoxide as precursor, acetylacetone as a chelating agent, nitric acid as a catalyzer, and hydrated erbium nitrate as a dopant under isopropanol environment. The different phase structure, including three crystalline types of (Al, Er)₂O₃ phases, α, γ, θ, and an Er–Al–O stoichiometric compound phase, Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄, was observed for the 0.01–0.5 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders at the sintering temperature of 1,000 °C. The green and red up-conversion emissions centered at about 523, 545 and 660 nm, corresponding respectively to the ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺, were detected by a 978 nm semiconductor laser diodes excitation. With increasing Er³⁺ doping concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 mol%, the intensity of the green and red emissions increased with a decrease of the intensity ratio of the green to red emission. When the Er³⁺ doping concentration rose to 5 mol%, the intensity of the green and red emissions decreased with an increase of their intensity ratio. The maximum intensity of both the green and red emissions with the minimum of intensity ratio was obtained, respectively, for the 0.1 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders composed of a single α-(Al,Er)₂O₃ phase. The intensity ratio of the green emission at 523 and 545 nm increased monotonously for all Er³⁺ doping concentrations. The two-photon absorption up-conversion process was involved in the green and red up-conversion emissions of the Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders.     

Treatment by serum up-conversion nanoparticles in the fluoride matrix changes the mechanism of cell death and the elasticity of the membrane

Nanoparticles are increasingly being used for treatment and diagnostic purposes, but their effects on cells is not fully understood. Here, the interaction of fluorescent up-conversion nanoparticles (UpC-NPs) with neutrophils was investigated by imaging and measurement of membrane-cytosceletal elasticity by atomic force microscopy. It was found that UpC-NPs induce the death of neutrophils mainly by necrosis, and to a smaller extent by a novel process called ‘mummification'. Necrosis occurs by gradual loss of intracellular contents and nuclei, 45–110 min after exposure to UpC-NPs. Mummification is apparent as an increase in the rigidity of the neutrophils' membrane and acquisition of a characteristic bumpy shape with numerous protrusions; this structure does not change during atomic force microscopy scanning. Coating UpC-NPs with protein by incubation with serum leads to (1) formation of nanoparticle aggregates in the nm and μm size range, (2) a reduction in toxicity, (3) reduced mummification of neutrophils, and (4) no significant reduction of the elasticity of the membrane-cytoskeletal complex of neutrophils 30 min after exposure to coated UpC-NPs. The study shows that serum proteins greatly curb the toxicity of nanoparticles and reveals mummification as a novel mechanism of UpC-NP-induced cell death.     

Dynamics of the Up-Conversion Emission in Holmium Doped Zblan Fiber

The dynamics of up-conversion, green emission under excitation at different infra-red wavelength in Ho^3? doped ZBLAN fiber is reported. Under infrared, 890 nm quasi cw pumping the complicated temporal behavior of the up-conversion signal is strongly influenced by the intermediate ⁵I₅ state cross relaxation. The mechanisms of the observed up-conversion processes are proposed and the time evolution of the ⁵S₂ population is described by the rate equation model. Parameters of the model are determined and numerical simulations of the excited state dynamics are performed.     

K+和Al3+掺杂对掺Er3+溶胶凝胶玻璃发光特性的影响

通过Sol-gel(溶胶-凝胶)技术,首次将Al3 离子和K 离子同时引入到掺Er3 硅酸盐玻璃中,并测定了硅基玻璃中Er3 离子的吸收光谱、透射光谱、光致发光光谱(PL谱)、上转换光谱、拉曼光谱及荧光寿命.结果显示:掺入的Al3 离子和K 离子不但分别使Er3 离子的荧光强度增强20倍和70倍,而且使Er3 离子在1 532 nm处的荧光寿命从4.8 ms延长至7.1和11.2 ms,但经过进一步分析可知两者对其的影响机制却完全不同;同时作者发现,在980 nm波长激发下,Er3 离子的上转换荧光应该同时存在两种发光机制:双光子吸收和能量传递上转换.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Er-doped yttria nanorods with enhanced red emission via upconversion

(Y_0.95Er_0.05)₂O₃ single-crystalline nanorods with intense red emission via up-conversion are synthesized by a hydrothermal method under modest reaction conditions. Green and red emissions are observed for both as-synthesized sample and post-treated sample after excitation at 488 nm and with upconversion pumping (810 nm). The experimental results indicate that the stokes and up-conversion luminescence of the post-treated (500 °C for 2 h) Y₂O₃:Er nanorods is more efficient than those of as-prepared materials. The increase of the Stokes luminescence may result from the improved crystallization, smooth surface and uniform diameter distribution. The enhanced red emission via upconversion is due to removal of part of surface contaminants, such as CO₃²⁻ and OH⁻. It is believed that a new mechanism is responsible for populating the ⁴S_3/2 and ⁴F_9/2 levels.     

Thermal loading induced near-infrared broadband upconversion emission of Sm-doped β-NaYbF4 nano-phosphors

A non-closed hydrothermal synthetic processing is improved to synthesize Sm³⁺ doped β-NaYbF₄ nano-phosphors at 98 °C without any high-temperature and high-pressure treatments as a final step. Novel green, red, and near-infrared broadband (799-873 nm) upconversion emissions of Sm³⁺-doped β-NaYbF₄ nano-phosphors under 980 nm excitation are observed. These UC emissions can be assigned to the Sm³⁺ transitions of ⁴G_J, ⁴F_3/2 and ⁶F_11/2→⁶H_J. The half-width of 873 nm emission band is broadened nearly two-fold through the annealing treatment for nano-phosphors. The upconversion process in Yb³⁺-Sm³⁺ system is discussed based on energy transfer mechanisms.     

NIR to visible upconversion in Er/Yb co-doped CaYAl3O7 phosphor obtained by solution combustion process

Using the combustion synthesis, CaYAl₃O₇:Er³⁺ phosphor powders co-doped with Yb³⁺ have been prepared at low temperatures (550 °C) in a few minutes. Formation of the compound was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. Near-infrared to visible upconversion fluorescence emission in the Er³⁺ doped CaYAl₃O₇ phosphor powder has been observed. The effect of co-doping with triply ionized ytterbium in the CaYAl₃O₇:Er³⁺ phosphor has been studied and the process involved is discussed.     

White up-conversion emission in Ho/Tm/Yb tri-doped glass ceramics embedding BaF2 nanocrystals

Ho³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped glass ceramics with white light emitting have been developed and demonstrated. Pumped by 980 nm laser diode (LD), intensive red, green and blue up-conversions (UC) were obtained. The green emission is assigned to Ho³⁺ ion and the blue emission is assigned to Tm³⁺ ion, whereas the red emission is the combination contribution of the Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions. The RGB intensities could be adjusted by tuning the rare-earth ion concentration and pump power intensity. Thus, multicolor of the luminescence, including perfect white light with CIE-X=0.329 and CIE-Y=0.342 in the 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram can be obtained in 0.15 Ho³⁺/0.2Tm³⁺/3Yb³⁺ tri-doped glass ceramics embedding BaF₂ nanocrystals pumped by a single infrared laser diode source of 980 nm at 500 mW. The up-conversion luminescence mechanism of Yb³⁺ sensitize Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions and the energy transfer from Ho³⁺ to Tm³⁺ in oxy-fluoride silicate glass ceramics were analyzed.