Synthesis, structure and optical properties of Eu/TiO2 nanocrystals at room temperature

The nanocrystal samples of titanium dioxide doped with europium ion (Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystal) are synthesized by the sol-gel method with hydrothermal treatment. The Eu³⁺ contents (molar ratio) in the samples are 0, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%. The X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy data and scanning electron microscope image show that crystallite size is reduced by the doping of Eu³⁺ into TiO₂. Comparing the Raman spectra of TiO₂ with Eu³⁺/TiO₂ (molar ratio Eu³⁺/TiO₂=1%, 2% and 4%) nanocrystals at different annealing temperatures indicates that the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation temperatures of Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are higher than that of TiO₂. This is due to the formation of Eu-O-Ti bonds on the surface of the TiO₂ crystallite, as characterized by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectra of TiO₂ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are interpreted by the surface self-trapped and defect-trapped exciton relaxation. The photoluminescence of Eu³⁺ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals has the strongest emission intensity at 2% of Eu³⁺ concentration.     

Pressure effect on the Raman and photoluminescence spectra of Eu3+-doped Na2Ti6O13 nanorods

Eu³⁺-doped Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ (Na₂Ti₆O₁₃:Eu) nanorods with diameters of 30 nm and lengths 400 nm were synthesized by hydrothermal and heat treatment methods. Raman spectra at ambient conditions indicated a pure monoclinic phase (space group C2/m) of the nanorods. The relations between structural and optical properties of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃:Eu nanorods under high pressures were obtained by photoluminescence and Raman spectra. Two structural transition points at 1.39 and 15.48 GPa were observed when the samples were pressurized. The first transition point was attributed to the crystalline structural distortion. The later transition point was the result of pressure-induced amorphization, and the high-density amorphous (HDA) phase formed after 15.48 GPa was structurally related to the monoclinic baddeleyite structured TiO₂ (P2₁/c). However, the site symmetry of the local environment around the Eu³⁺ ions in Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ increased with the rising pressure. These above results indicate the occurrence of short-range order for the local asymmetry around the Eu³⁺ ions and long-range disorder for the crystalline structure of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃:Eu nanorods by applying pressure. After releasing the pressure from 22.74 GPa, the HDA phase is transformed to low-density amorphous form, which is attributed to be structurally related to the α-PbO₂-type TiO₂.     

Structure and photoluminescence properties of Er3+-doped TiO2-SiO2 powders prepared by sol-gel method

Er 3+-doped TiO 2-SiO 2 powders are prepared by the sol-gel method,and they are characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM),X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra,and Raman spectra of the samples.It is shown that the TiO 2 nanocrystals are surrounded by an SiO 2 glass matrix.The photoluminescence (PL) spectra are recorded at room temperature.A strong green luminescence and less intense red emission are observed in the samples when they are excited at 325 nm.The intensity of the emission,which is related to the defect states,is strongest at the annealing temperature of 800 C.The PL intensity of Er 3+ ions increases with increasing Ti/Si ratio due to energy transfer between nano-TiO 2 particles and Er 3+ ions.     

Synthesis and Optical Properties of Novel Red-Emitting PbNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>: Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Phosphors

Undoped and PbNb₂O_6:Eu³⁺ (1.0 ≤ x ≤ 6.0 mol%) phosphors were synthesized at 1100 °C for 3.5 h by the conventional solid state reaction method. Synthesized PbNb₂O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The PL spectra showed series of excitation peaks between 350 and 430 nm due to the 4f–4f transitions of Eu³⁺. For 395.0 nm excitation, emission spectra of Eu³⁺ doped samples were observed at 591 nm (orange) and 614 nm (red) due to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ transitions and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transitions, respectively. PL analysis results also showed that the emission intensity increased by increasing Eu³⁺ ion content. No concentration quenching effect was observed. The CIE chromaticity color coordinates (x,y) of the PbNb₂O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphors were found to be in the red region of the chromaticity diagram.     

Frequency-conversion properties of Eu doped chlorophosphate glass ceramics containing CaCl2 nanocrystals

Eu³⁺ ion doped chlorophosphate glass ceramics containing nanocrystals were successfully prepared, and their spectroscopic characterizations were done using absorption, excitation and emission spectra. For the crystallized samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments evidenced the formation of CaCl₂ nanocrystals. The absorption and emission spectra investigations indicate that a considerable amount of Eu³⁺ ions was trapped in CaCl₂ nanocrystals, and therefore an efficient up- and down-frequency conversion was observed. The comparative spectroscopic studies of Eu³⁺ doped samples suggest that the investigated glass ceramics systems are potentially applicable as frequency-conversion photonics devices.     

<Superscript>119</Superscript>Sn Mössbauer studies on ferromagnetic and photocatalytic Sn–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocrystals

Diluted Sn doped TiO₂ nanocrystals (Sn/Ti ratio: x ≤ 1.37 %) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method using pure reagents without any surfactant and dispersant material. The XRD of these samples showed an anatase phase, anatase and rutile mixed phases, and a rutile phase of TiO₂ and SnO₂ with the increase of Sn dopant concentrations. ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectra gave the broad peaks, which were decomposed into doublets and sextets because almost all these samples showed magnetic hysteresis even at room temperature. The titanium oxides doped with x ≤ 0.12 % showed the relatively large magnetic hysteresis and high photocatalytic activity. Mössbauer spectra of samples doped with x > 0.3 % were analyzed by one doublet and two sextets although the samples showed weak ferromagnetism. Three kinds of Sn species may be distinguished as Sn ⁴⁺ substituted TiO₂ and two different magnetic arrangements of Sn doped TiO₂: one with more oxygen defects and other at the interface of TiO₂ and precipitated SnO₂ containing Ti atoms. The correlation between various amounts of Sn sites and photocatalytic activity and/ or magnetic property was discussed.     

Multiplesite structure and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped MgO nanocrystals

MgO:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals with average diameter around 15 nm were prepared via a facile combustion method under a weak reductive atmosphere at temperature as low as 300°C. The photoluminescence spectra showed that the MgO:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals emit white light, the hypersensitive transition (⁵ D ₀→⁷ F _j of Eu³⁺) emission was prominent in the emission spectra resulting from the noinversion symmetry local site at which Eu³⁺ ions were located. Two kinds of luminescence sites of Eu³⁺ are identified by means of the fluorescence decay and site-selective spectroscopy. The excitation and absorption spectra indicated that the absorption of surface state decreased with the increase of Eu³⁺ concentration, meaning that the surface defect decreased through Eu³⁺ doping for some of them located at the disordered sites near the surface or absorbed at the surface of MgO host. Meanwhile, absorptivity and CIE chromaticity coordinates of all samples were measured; the results were in accordance with the excitation and absorption spectra and photoluminescence spectra, respectively.     

Raman study of phase transformation of TiO2 rutile single crystal irradiated by infrared femtosecond laser

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) rutile single crystal was irradiated by infrared femtosecond (fs) laser pulses with repetition rate of 250 kHz and phase transformation of rutile TiO₂ was observed. Micro-Raman spectra show that the intensity of E_g Raman vibrating mode of rutile phase increases and that of A_1g Raman vibrating mode decreases apparently within the ablation crater after fs laser irradiation. With increasing of irradiation time, the Raman vibrating modes of anatase phase emerged. Rutile phase of TiO₂ single crystal is partly transformed into anatase phase. The anatase phase content transformed from rutile phase increased to a constant with increasing of fs pulse laser irradiation time. The study indicates the more stable rutile phase is transformed into anatase phase by the high pressure produced by fs pulse laser irradiation.     

Photoluminescence in anatase titanium dioxide nanocrystals

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanocrystals were prepared by a hydrolysis process of tetrabutyl titanate. X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering showed that the as-prepared TiO₂ nanocrystals have anatase structure of TiO₂, and that the monophase anatase nanocrystals can be achieved through a series of annealing treatments below 650 °C. We measured photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the TiO₂ nanocrystals. Under 2.41–2.71 eV laser irradiation, the TiO₂ nanocrystals displayed strong visible light emission with maxima of 2.15–2.29 eV even at excitation power as low as 0.06 W/cm². To identify the PL mechanism in the TiO₂ nanocrystals, the dependences of the PL intensity on excitation power and irradiation time were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the radiative recombination is mediated by localized levels related to surface defects residing in TiO₂ nanocrystallites. Received: 7 April 1999 / Revised version: 23 August 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

The luminescence enhancement of Eu3+ ion and SnO2 nanocrystal co-doped solben gel SiO2 films

SnO₂ nanocrystal and rare-earth Eu³⁺ ion co-doped SiO₂ thin films are prepared by sol-gel and spin coating methods. The formation of tetragonal rutile structure SnO₂ nanocrystals with a uniform distribution is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the densities of the hydroxyl groups, and it is found that the emission intensity from the ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transitions of the Eu³⁺ ions is enhanced by two orders of magnitude due to energy transfer from the oxygen-vacancy-related defects of the SnO₂ nanocrystals to nearby Eu³⁺ ions. The influences of the amounts of Sn and the post-annealing temperatures are systematically evaluated to further understand the mechanism of energy transfer. The luminescence intensity ratio of Eu³⁺ ions from electric dipole transition and magnetic dipole transition indicate the different probable locations of Eu³⁺ ions in the sol-gel thin film, which are further discussed based on temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements.     

Preparation and characterization of hollow TiO2 nanospheres: The effect of Fe3+ doping on their microstructure and electronic structure

Hollow Fe-doped TiO₂ spheres with various Fe dopant concentrations, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 wt%, were synthesized via a hydrothermal method using carbon spheres as templates. The prepared samples were calcined in air at temperatures of 500 and 550 °C for 3 h and characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, EDX, XPS and UV–vis spectroscopy. The analytical results showed that the presence of a very low concentration of Fe³⁺ incorporated into hollow nanoporous TiO₂ spheres inhibited the growth of nanocrystals as well as the anatase to rutile phase transformation inside the anatase TiO₂ lattice. Doping with 1.0 wt% Fe³⁺ resulted in a reduction of the TiO₂ sphere diameter from 205.71 ± 25.29 nm to 68.70 ± 7.07 nm. The optical energy gap of the samples was determined from UV–Vis absorption spectra. The results showed that the absorption edge of TiO₂@Fe was shifted toward the visible light region with increased Fe content.     

Europium(III) Concentration Effect on the Spectroscopic and Photoluminescent Properties of BaMoO4:Eu

BaMoO₄:Eu (BEMO) powders were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method (PPM), heat treated at 800 °C for 2 h in a heating rate of 5 °C/min and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, besides room temperature Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The emission spectra of BEMO samples under excitation of 394 nm present the characteristic Eu³⁺ transitions. The relative intensities of the Eu³⁺ emissions increase as the concentration of this ion increases from 0.01 to 0.075 mol, but the luminescence is drastically quenched for the Ba_0.855Eu_0.145MoO₄ sample. The one exponential decay curves of the Eu^{3+ 5}D₀→⁷F₂ transition, λ _exc = 394 nm and λ _em = 614 nm, provided the decay times of around 0.54 ms for all samples. It was observed a broadening of the Bragg reflections and Raman bands when the Eu⁺³ concentration increases as a consequence of a more disordered material. The presence of MoO₃ and Eu₂Mo₂O₇ as additional phases in the BEMO samples where observed when the Eu³⁺ concentration was 14.5 mol%.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and optical characteristics of Eu in Zn2SnO4 nanocrystals

Zn₂SnO₄:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals were one-step synthesized by hydrothermal method for the first time. All the products were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA), photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescent excitation (PLE). The characteristic peak of Eu³⁺-doped in Zn₂SnO₄ nanocrystals was also detected. The luminescent properties of blank and Eu³⁺-doped Zn₂SnO₄ nanocrystals were reported.     

Influence of phase and morphology on thermal conductivity of alumina particle/silicone rubber composites

Eu²⁺- and Eu³⁺-Zn₂GeO₄ were prepared by the high temperature solid-state reaction method. The phase purity and crystallinity of Zn₂GeO₄:Eu samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The excitation spectra, the emission spectra and the luminescence decay curves of the Eu²⁺- and Eu³⁺-Zn₂GeO₄ were investigated. Zn₂GeO₄:Eu²⁺ gives a bluish-green luminescence with one emission band located at 467 nm, and Zn₂GeO₄:Eu³⁺ presents an reddish-orange color due to the transition (⁵D₀→⁷F_J, J = 1 and 2) of the Eu³⁺ ions. The luminescence decay curves of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ provide complementary evidence to the mixed valence of europium (Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺) in Zn₂GeO₄ host. These indicate that the mixed valence of europium (Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺) coexists in Zn₂GeO₄ host prepared in an oxidizing atmosphere. The abnormal reduction phenomenon of Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ in Zn₂GeO₄ host prepared in an oxidizing atmosphere was reported and discussed on the basis of the charge compensation model.     

Ti<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> hollow sphere with mixed phases of anatase and rutile prepared by dual-frequency atmospheric pressure plasma jet

A novel method of synthesizing Ti³⁺-doped TiO₂ was proposed. Ti³⁺-doped TiO₂ hollow spheres were prepared with different thickness of carbon shell by using atmospheric pressure plasma jet generated by dual-frequency power sources. The as-synthesized Ti³⁺-doped TiO₂ hollow microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis spectra. These results indicated that these samples had mixed phases of anatase and rutile and the structure of hollow sphere varied with different thickness of carbon shell. The Ti-O-C chemical bond was the connection between the TiO₂ hollow sphere and carbon layer. Amount of Ti³⁺ ions were found, which were accompanied with the formation of oxygen vacancies. Meantime, the as-synthesized catalysts also display strong absorption in the visible light region and have a narrow band energy gap. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to observe different excited species in the discharge area. These results showed that the oxygen content had a significant impact on the number of oxygen vacancies. Finally, the photocatalytic activities of as-prepared samples were evaluated by decomposition of rhodamine B aqueous solution, which showed better photocatalytic activity under UV–vis light irradiation.     

Nanocrystalline BaTiO3, doped with Eu and Cr: Fluorescence spectroscopy and spontaneous ordering effects

The results of optical studies of Cr³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions doped nanocrystalline ferroelectric BaTiO₃ produced by the sol-gel process (particle size 20-40 nm) are reported. The Cr³⁺ impurity ions ²E-⁴A₂ (R-lines) fluorescence spectra in BaTiO₃ revealed significant differences from that reported in literature for the bulk material. At least three types of Cr³⁺ centers were found in the spectra. The temperature dependence of optical second harmonic generation in nanocrystalline BaTiO₃: Eu³⁺ shows a strong hysteresis in C_4v-O_h ferroelectric phase transition region, which was explained by the ordering effects in the system of electric dipole moments of dipole nanocrystals. The temperature dependencies of radiative lifetime of Eu³⁺⁵D₀ excited level reveal some hysteresis too. The possibility of influence of the ordering in the system of BaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals on the effective index of refraction of the medium and thus on the Eu³⁺⁵D₀ radiative lifetime, due to the local field effects is discussed.     

Photoluminescence properties of Sr(Y, Gd)2O4:Euunder VUV excitation

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Sr(Y, Gd)₂O₄ doped with Eu³⁺ were studied. The excitation spectra of SrY_1.9Eu_0.1O₄ and SrY_1.0Gd_0.9Eu_0.1O₄ had absorption in the VUV region with the absorption band edge at 149 nm, while the absorption of SrGd_1.9Eu_0.1O₄ in the VUV region was weak, which could be due to the narrow host band gap and no efficient energy transfer occurred in the VUV region. The PL spectra of all samples exhibited the characteristic emission of Eu³⁺ with the red ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition (611 nm) being the most prominent group.     

壳聚糖/LaF3 ∶ Eu3+纳米复合粒子的简易合成及发光特性

在水溶液中采用化学共沉淀法制备了壳聚糖/LaF₃ ∶ Eu³⁺纳米复合粒子。通过透射电子显微镜(TEM),X射线衍射(XRD),傅立叶变换近红外(FT-IR)光谱对样品进行了表征。结果表明:所得纳米复合粒子大小在 20 nm左右,粒径均匀,表面包覆的壳聚糖使其易溶于水,并具备了与生物蛋白偶联的多个基团。测量了该纳米复合粒子的激发光谱与发射光谱,详细说明了各发光峰对应能级的跃迁及其发光机理,分析了不同掺杂浓度对其相对发光强度的影响。结果表明:当 Eu³⁺离子掺杂摩尔分数为 10%时,样品的相对发光强度达到最大值。最后介绍了壳聚糖/LaF₃ ∶ Eu³⁺纳米复合粒子与荧光蛋白 FITC偶联的方法,以表明其在生物学中潜在的应用价值。     

Raman study of rutile (TiO2) at high pressures

The Raman spectra and polymorphism of rutile have been investigated under hydrostatic pressures up to 90 kbar at room temperature. A transition previously observed in rutile at 30 kbar in a Drickamer-type cell under nonhydrostatic conditions was observed to begin at approximately 70 kbar in a 4:1 mixture of methanol and ethanol. The small amount (10–20%) of the high-pressure phase synthesized from rutile, however, did not increase even though the sample was left under pressure for a period of 1 month at ambient temperature. On the basis of factor group analysis, in situ powder x-ray diffraction data, and comparison of the Raman spectrum of the high-pressure modification with that of TiO₂-II (α-PbO₂-type structure synthesized from anatase powder at 40 kbar and 400°C), it is evident that a high pressures rutile transforms irreversibly to TiO₂-II.     

Phonon spectra of stoichiometric rare-earth compound of EuGa2S4

Investigations of EuGa₂S₄ have been done on the photoluminescence (PL) related to the transition between 4f⁶5d and 4f⁷ configuration of the Eu²⁺ ion and its excitation (PLE) spectra, Raman scattering and infrared absorption. The energies of phonons coupled to the ground and the excited states of the transition are analyzed to be 34 and 19 meV from the shapes of the PL and PLE bands, respectively. The former corresponds to the energy of the Raman line showing the highest intensity. The latter is close to the value obtained from analysis of the temperature dependence of the half width of the PL band. These correspondences indicate that the relevant emission of EuGa₂S₄ surely has phonon-terminated character.