The fabrication of one-dimensional Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O: Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb) phosphors by electrospinning method and their luminescence properties

One-dimensional Ca(4)Y(6)(SiO(4))(6)O: Ln(3+) (Ln=Eu, Tb) microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed that the fibers were composed of hexagonal Ca(4)Y(6)(SiO4)(6)O phase. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) results showed that the Ca(4)Y(6)(SiO4)(6)O phase began to crystallize at 740°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the diameter of as-prepared microfibers ranged from 390 to 900 nm and the diameter of the microfibers annealed at 1000°C ranged from to 120 to 260 nm. Under ultraviolet and low-voltage electron beams (3-5 kV) excitation, the Ca(4)Y(6)(SiO(4))(6)O: Ln(3+) (Ln=Eu, Tb) samples showed the red and green emission, corresponding to (5)D(0)→(7)F(2) transition of Eu(3+) and (5)D(4)→(7)F(5) transition of Tb(3+), respectively.     

YF3:Ln3+ (Ln = Ce, Tb, Pr) submicrospindles: hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

YF(3):Ln(3+) (Ln = Ce, Tb, Pr) microspindles were successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), lifetimes, photoluminescence (PL) and low-voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) were used to characterize the resulting samples. The lengths and diameters of YF(3):0.02Ce(3+) microspindles are around 760 nm and 230 nm, respectively. Adding dilute acid and trisodium citrate (Cit(3-)) are essential for obtaining YF(3) microspindles. A potential formation mechanism for YF(3) microspindles has been presented. PL spectroscopy investigations show that YF(3):Ce(3+) and YF(3):Tb(3+) microcrystals exhibit the characteristic emission of Ce(3+) 5d → 4f and Tb(3+ 5)D(4)→(7)F(J) (J = 6-3) transitions, respectively. In addition, the energy transfer from Ce(3+) to Tb(3+) was investigated in detail for YF(3):Ce(3+), Tb(3+) microspindles. Under the excitation of electron beams, YF(3):Pr(3+) show quantum cutting emission and YF(3):Ce(3+), Tb(3+) phosphors exhibit more intense green emission than the commercial phosphor ZnO:Zn.     

Highly uniform and monodisperse Gd(2)O(2)S:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb) submicrospheres: solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

Gd(2)O(2)S:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb) submicrospheres were successfully prepared through a facile and mild solvothermal method followed by a subsequent heat treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that all the diffraction peaks of the samples can be well indexed to the pure hexagonal phase of Gd(2)O(2)S. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), element analysis, and FT-IR results show that the precursors are composed of the Gd, Eu, O, S, C, H, and N elements. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that these spheres are actually composed of randomly aggregated nanoparticles. The formation mechanism for the Gd(2)O(2)S:Ln(3+)(Ln = Eu, Tb) spheres has been proposed on an isotropic growth mechanism. Under ultraviolet excitation, Gd(2)O(2)S:Ln(3+)(Ln = Eu, Tb) spheres show red and green emission corresponding to the (5)D(0)→(7)F(2) transition of the Eu(3+) ions and the (5)D(4)→(7)F(5) transition of the Tb(3+) ions. Furthermore, this synthetic route may have potential applications for fabricating other lanthanide oxysulfides.     

Crystal structure and luminescence of lanthanide monodentate complexes [Ln(C(4)N(4)H(6)O)(2)(H(2)O)(6)]Cl(3) and [Ln(C(4)N(4)H(6)O)(2)(H(2)O)(3)(NO(3))(3)] (Ln = Tb or Eu)

New eight- and nine-coordinate luminescent europium(III) and terbium(III) complexes 1-4 with carbonyl group coordination have been prepared using the monodentate ligand (L) 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy pyrimidine and characterized by X-ray and spectroscopic methods.     

Monodisperse mesocrystals of YF3 and Ce3+/Ln3+ (Ln=Tb, Eu) co-activated YF3: shape control synthesis, luminescent properties, and biocompatibility

A family of monodisperse YF(3), YF(3):Ce(3+) and YF(3):Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) (Ln=Tb, Eu) mesocrystals with a morphology of a hollow spindle can be synthesized by a solvothermal process using yttrium nitrate and NH(4) F as precursors. The effects of reaction time, fluorine source, solvents, and reaction temperature on the synthesis of these mesocrystals have been studied in detail. The results demonstrate that the formation of a hollow spindle-like YF(3) can be ascribed to a nonclassical crystallization process by means of a particle-based reaction route in ethanol. It has been shown that the fluorine sources selected have a remarkable effect on the morphologies and crystalline phases of the final products. Moreover, the luminescent properties of Ln(3+)-doped and Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) -co-doped spindle-like YF(3) mesocrystals were also investigated. It turns out that Ce(3+) is an efficient sensitizer for Ln(3+) in the spindle-like YF(3) mesocrystals. Remarkable fluorescence enhancement was observed in Ce(3+)/Ln(3+) -co-doped YF(3) mesocrystals. The mechanism of the energy transfer and electronic transition between Ce(3+) and Ln(3+) in the host material of YF(3) mesocrystals was also explored. The cytotoxicity study revealed that these YF(3) -based nanocrystals are biocompatible for applications, such as cellular imaging.     

Uniform hollow Lu2O3:Ln (Ln = Eu3+, Tb3+) spheres: facile synthesis and luminescent properties

Uniform hollow Lu(2)O(3):Ln (Ln = Eu(3+), Tb(3+)) phosphors have been successfully prepared via a urea-assisted homogeneous precipitation method using carbon spheres as templates, followed by a subsequent calcination process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra, kinetic decays, quantum yields (QY), and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra were employed to characterize the samples. The results show that hollow Lu(2)O(3):Ln spheres can be indexed to cubic Gd(2)O(3) phase with high purity. The as-prepared hollow Lu(2)O(3):Ln phosphors are confirmed to be uniform in shape and size with diameter of about 300 nm and shell thickness of approximate 20 nm. The possible formation mechanism of evolution from the carbon spheres to the amorphous precursor and to the final hollow Lu(2)O(3):Ln microspheres has been proposed. Upon ultraviolet (UV) and low-voltage electron beams excitation, the hollow Lu(2)O(3):Ln (Ln = Eu(3+), Tb(3+)) spheres exhibit bright red (Eu(3+), (5)D(0)-(7)F(2)) and green (Tb(3+), (5)D(4)-(7)F(5)) luminescence, which may find potential applications in the fields of color display and biomedicine.     

Fabrication of apatite-type La(9.33)(SiO4)6O2 hollow nanoshells as energy-saving oxidative catalysts

Apatite-type La(9.33)(SiO(4))(6)O(2) hollow nanoshells were successfully synthesized by a controlled route. These oxide-ion-conducting hollow nanoshells were used to catalyze oxidative coupling of methane, and an enhanced catalytic performance at relatively low temperature was realized. The high-activity and energy-saving features were attributed to their hollow nanostructures and oxide ion conductivity.     

Patterning of Gd2(WO4)3:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb) luminescent films by microcontact printing route

Gd(2)(WO(4))(3) doped with Eu(3+) or Tb(3+) thin phosphor films with dot patterns have been prepared by a combinational method of sol-gel process and microcontact printing. This process utilizes a PDMS elastomeric mold as the stamp to create heterogeneous pattern on quartz substrates firstly and then combined with a Pechini-type sol-gel process to selectively deposit the luminescent phosphors on hydrophilic regions, in which a Gd(2)(WO(4))(3):Ln(3+) (Ln=Eu, Tb) precursor solutions were employed as ink. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, as well as low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra were carried out to characterize the obtained samples. Under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beams excitation, the Gd(2)(WO(4))(3):Eu(3+) samples exhibit a strong red emission arising from Eu(3+)(5)D(0,1,2)-(7)F(1,2) transitions, while the Gd(2)(WO(4))(3):Tb(3+) samples show the green emission coming from the characteristic emission of Tb(3+) corresponding to (5)D(4)-(7)F(6,5,4,3) transitions. The results show that the patterning of rare earth-doped phosphors through combining microcontact printing with a Pechini-type sol-gel route has potential for field emission displays (FEDs) applications.     

Syntheses, structures and properties of seven isomorphous 1D Ln3+complexes Ln(BTA)(HCOO)(H2O)3 (H2BTA = bis(tetrazoly)amine, Ln = Pr, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Yb) and two 3D Ln3+ complexes Ln(HCOO)3 (Ln = Pr, Nd)

Seven isomorphous 1D chain Ln3+ complexes Ln(BTA)(HCOO)(H2O)3 (Ln = Pr (1), Gd (2), Eu (3), Tb (4) Dy (5), Er (6) and Yb (7)), and two formate coordinating and bridging 3D Ln3+ complexes Ln(HCOO)3 (Ln = Pr (8) and Nd (9)) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Although the Ln3+ ions in 1-7 have different radius, the trivalent lanthanide ions in 1-7 show the same coordinated environment. The well-defined single crystal structures of 8 and 9 are first samples for formate-bridged Ln3+ metallic complexes. The luminescent properties of solid samples of 2-5 at room temperature and the magnetic property of 2 have been also reported and discussed in this paper.     

Eu3+/Tb3+-doped La2O2CO3/La2O3 nano/microcrystals with multiform morphologies: facile synthesis, growth mechanism, and luminescence properties

LaCO(3)OH nano/microcrystals with a variety of morphologies/sizes including nanoflakes, microflowers, nano/microrhombuses, two-double microhexagrams sandwichlike microspindles, and peach-nucleus-shaped microcrystals have been synthesized via a facile homogeneous precipitation route under mild conditions. A series of controlled experiments indicate that the pH values in the initial reaction systems, carbon sources, and simple ions (NH(4)(+) and Na(+)) were responsible for the shape determination of the LaCO(3)OH products. A possible formation mechanism for these products with diverse architectures has been presented. After annealing at suitable temperatures, LaCO(3)OH was easily converted to La(2)O(2)CO(3) and La(2)O(3) with the initial morphologies. A systematic study on the photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence properties of Eu(3+)- or Tb(3+)-doped La(2)O(2)CO(3)/La(2)O(3) samples has been performed in detail. The excitation and site-selective emission spectra were recorded to investigate the microstructure, site symmetry, and difference in the (5)D(0) → (7)F(2) transition of Eu(3+) ions in La(2)O(2)CO(3) and La(2)O(3) host lattices. In addition, the dependence of the luminescent intensity on the morphology for the as-prepared La(2)O(2)CO(3)/La(2)O(3):Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb) samples has been investigated. The ability of generating diverse morphologies and multiemitting colors for different rare-earth activator ion (Ln = Eu, Tb) doped La(2)O(2)CO(3)/La(2)O(3) nano/microstructures provides a great opportunity for the systematic evaluation of morphology-dependent luminescence properties, as well as the full exploration of their application in many types of color display fields.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [Ln(4-Pyta)3(H2O)2] n (Ln = Nd,Ce, Eu,Gd; 4-Pyta = 4-pyridylthioacetate)

Four new lanthanide complexes, [Nd(4-Pyta)₃(H₂O)₂] _n (1), [Ce(4-Pyta)₃(H₂O)₂] _n (2), [Eu(4-Pyta)₃(H₂O)₂] _n (3) and [Gd(4-Pyta)₃(H₂O)₂] _n (4), have been obtained from reaction of lanthanide(III) nitrate with 4-Pyta (4-pyridylthioacetate) in water. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals belong to triclinic, space group P 1 and all complexes exhibit one-dimensional chains that arrange to form a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture by hydrogen bonds between the chains.     

LnBaB9O16:Eu3+(Ln=La,Y)的结构与荧光性质

利用电子衍射、X射线衍射和荧光光谱等方法研究了LnBaB₉O₁₆(Ln=La,Y)的结构特性.LnBaB₉O₁₆为单斜晶系,其中LaBaB₉O₁₆的晶胞参数a=1.3660nm,b=0.7882nm,c=1.6253nm,β=106.15°;YBaB₉O₁₆的晶胞参数a=1.3476nm,b=0.7776nm,c=1.6040nm,β=106.38°.荧光光谱研究表明,这两种化合物结构不同,Y³⁺在YBaB₉O₁₆结构中处于中心对称格位,而LaBaB₉O₁₆中La³⁺的格位则无中心对称性.Gd³⁺部分取代LaBaB₉O₁₆:Eu³⁺中的La³⁺可改善Eu³⁺离子的发光性质.LaBaB₉O₁₆:Eu³⁺在真空紫外区的吸收比较弱,这可能与硼氧比较小有关.     

Study on optical properties of rare-earth ions in nanocrystalline monoclinic SrAl2O4: Ln (Ln = Ce3+, Pr3+, Tb3+)

SrAl(2)O(4): Ln (Ln = Ce(3+), Pr(3+), Tb(3+)) nanocrystals have been synthesized by the combustion method. The results of XRD indicated that the resulting SrAl(2)O(4): Ln (Ln = Ce(3+), Pr(3+), Tb(3+)) nanocrystals have a reduced and distorted monoclinic lattice compared with bulk materials. The spectral properties are measured, and it is found that the excitation peaks of 5d energy levels red shift in nanocrystals in contrast to that in bulk crystals. The mechanism of spectra and energy changes is investigated. The order of the degree of red shift for nano SrAl(2)O(4): Ln (Ln = Ce(3+), Pr(3+), Tb(3+)) crystals is Pr(3+) > Ce(3+) > Tb(3+), which is in good agreement with our predicted results.     

掺三价铈离子四偏磷酸盐NaLn(PO3)4 (Ln=La, Gd)的真空紫外光谱研究

用高温固相法合成了NaLn（PO3）4：1．0％（原子分数）Ce^3＋（Ln=La,Gd）两种粉末发光材料,在合肥国家同步辐射实验室（NSRL）测得两种样品中Ce^3＋的真空紫外光谱。根据真空紫外光谱图,得到了两种稀土偏磷酸盐中所掺Ce^3＋离子5d轨道的能级分裂图。结合NaLa（PO3）4和NaGd（PO3）4的单晶结构数据,发现随着Ln-O平均键长的减小,Ce^3＋离子5d轨道的晶场劈裂（εcfs）、重心位移（εc）和总的红移（total redshilt,D）均增大。根据配体极化模型,计算了两种化合物中掺杂Ce^3＋离子的有效平均键长（Reff）和光谱极化率（αsp）,发现随着平均键长Rav（Ln—O）变短,Ce^3＋离子的光谱极化率（αsp）也随之减小。     

Controllable synthesis and tunable luminescence properties of Y2(WO4)3:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Yb/Er, Yb/Tm and Yb/Ho) 3D hierarchical architectures

Yttrium tungstate precursors with novel 3D hierarchical architectures assembled from nanosheet building blocks were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS). After calcination, the precursors were easily converted to Y(2)(WO(4))(3) without an obvious change in morphology. The as-prepared precursors and Y(2)(WO(4))(3) were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. The results reveal that the morphology and dimensions of the as-prepared precursors can be effectively tuned by altering the amounts of organic SDBS and the reaction time, and the possible formation mechanism was also proposed. Upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the emission of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):x mol% Eu(3+) microcrystals can be tuned from white to red, and the doping concentration of Eu(3+) has been optimized. Furthermore, the up-conversion (UC) luminescence properties as well as the emission mechanisms of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):Yb(3+)/Ln(3+) (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) microcrystals were systematically investigated, which show green (Er(3+), (4)S(3/2), (2)H(11/2)→(4)I(15/2)), blue (Tm(3+), (1)G(4)→(3)H(6)) and yellow (Ho(3+), (5)S(2)→(5)I(8)) luminescence under 980 nm NIR excitation. Moreover, the doping concentration of the Yb(3+) has been optimized under a fixed concentration of Er(3+) for the UC emission of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):Yb(3+)/Er(3+).     

Study of the formation of the apatite-type phases La9.33+x(SiO4)6O2+3x/2 synthesized from a lanthanum oxycarbonate La2O2CO3

Lanthanum silicated apatites with nominal composition La_9.33+x(SiO₄)₆O_2+3x/2 (−0.2 < x < 0.27) have been successfully synthesized by solid state reaction using a new reagent La₂O₂CO₃ and amorphous SiO₂ precursors. The formation mechanism of La₂O₂CO₃ reagent, which cannot be purchased, has been followed by in-situ temperature depend XRD of La₂O₃ under CO₂ atmosphere. The stability of this reagent during the synthesis step allowed to limit the formation of secondary phase La₂Si₂O₇ and made the weighting of the reagent easier. High purity powders could be synthesized at the temperature of 1400 °C. Dense pellets (more than 98.5%) were obtained by isostatic pressing of powders calcined at 1200 °C and then sintered at 1550 °C. Traces of La₂SiO₅ secondary phase present in synthesized powder disappeared after densification and pure oxyapatite materials were obtained for all the compositions. Electrical measurements confirmed that conductivity behaviors of the sintered pellets were dependent to the oxygen over-stoichiometry. Indeed, a relatively high conductivity of 1 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ was exhibited at 800 °C for the nominal composition La_9.60(SiO₄)₆O_2.405 with low activation energy around 0.79 eV. The ionic conductivity properties were comparable with that of the earlier obtained materials.     

Ln(III)(2)Mn(III)(2) heterobimetallic "butterfly" complexes displaying antiferromagnetic coupling (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Er)

The isostructural heterometallic complexes [Ln(III)(2)Mn(III)(2)O(2)(ccnm)(6)(dcnm)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (Ln = Eu (1Eu), Gd (1Gd), Tb (1Tb), Er (1Er); ccnm = carbamoylcyanonitrosomethanide; dcnm = dicyanonitrosomethanide) have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The in situ transition metal promoted nucleophilic addition of water to dcnm, forming the derivative ligand ccnm, plays an essential role in cluster formation. The central [Ln(III)(2)Mn(III)(2)(O)(2)] moiety has a "butterfly" topology. The coordinated aqua ligands and the NH(2) group of the ccnm ligands facilitate the formation of a range of hydrogen bonds with the lattice solvent and neighbouring clusters. Magnetic measurements generally reveal weak intracluster antiferromagnetic coupling, except for the large J(MnMn) value in 1Gd. There is some evidence for single molecule magnetic (SMM) behaviour in 1Er. Comparisons of the magnetic properties are made with other recently reported butterfly-type {Ln(III)(x)M(III)(4-x) (d-block)} clusters, x = 1, 2; M = Mn, Fe.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, dimension evolution and luminescence properties of tetragonal LaVO4:Ln (Ln = Eu3+, Dy3+, Sm3+) nanocrystals

Well-defined 1D and 3D t-LaVO(4):Ln (Ln = Eu(3+), Dy(3+), Sm(3+)) nanocrystals with regular and uniform shapes were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal route assisted by disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na(2)EDTA). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), as well as kinetic decay curves were employed to characterize the samples. The results show that the reaction time, pH value of the initial solution, and Na(2)EDTA/La(3+) molar ratio all have an important influence on the dimension and shapes of the final products. By introducing the "splitting mechanism" to the dimension and morphology evolution process from one-dimensional (1D) to three-dimensional (3D) t-LaVO(4) crystals, the nucleation and crystal growth processes were well demonstrated. The Ln(3+) ions doped t-LaVO(4) samples exhibit respective bright red, blue-white and orange luminescence of Eu(3+), Dy(3+), and Sm(3+) under ultraviolet excitation, and have potential application in the fields of colour display, UV laser and biomedicine. The results not only expand the knowledge of the properties of lanthanide orthovanadates luminescence, but also contribute to the principles of the crystal growth and dimension transition of this kind of inorganic material.     

Structural Investigation of Homoleptic Lanthanide(III) Tris(pivalamidinates), [tBuC(NiPr)2]3Ln (Ln = Ce,Eu, Tb)

Three new homoleptic lanthanide(III) tris(pivalamidinates), [tBuC(NiPr)₂]₃Ln (Ln = Ce ( 1 ), Eu ( 2 ), Tb ( 3 )) were synthesized by reaction of anhydrous LnCl₃ with 3 equivalents of in situ prepared Li[tBuC(NiPr)₂] in THF. X‐ray structural analyses confirmed the presence of homoleptic, unsolvated tris(amidinates) in which the central Ln³⁺ ions are coordinated by three chelating pivalamidinate anions in a distorted all‐nitrogen trigonal prismatic arrangement. Compounds 1 – 3 all crystallize in the monoclinic system, with 1 and 3 containing solvent of crystallization ( 1 : toluene, 3 : n‐pentane) whereas the europium derivative 2 is unsolvated.