Preparation of Gd2O3:Yb,Er and Gd2O2S:Yb,Er infrared-to-visible conversion phosphor ultrafine particles using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Upconverting phosphor fine particles (Gd2O3:Yb,Er and Gd2O2S:Yb,Er) have been prepared, using an emulsion liquid membrane (ELM, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion) system. The composite Gd-Yb-Er oxalate particles obtained in the ELM system were mainly 20-60 nm in size, together with a smaller amount of submicrometer-sized spherical particles. Nanometer-sized Gd2O3:Yb,Er and Gd2O2S:Yb,Er particles were obtained by calcination in air and in sulfur atmosphere, respectively, of the precursor oxalate particles prepared in the ELM system. Upconversion emissions (red and green) were obtained from the Gd2O3:Yb,Er and Gd2O2S:Yb,Er particles prepared in the ELM system under infrared excitation (lambdaex=980 nm) via a two-photon process. Upconversion phosphor fine particles, about 50 nm in diameter, may be applied to the luminescent reporter material for the detection of the targeted analyte in immunoassays or DNA assays.     

Preparation of Sr2CeO4:Eu3+,Dy3+ white luminescence phosphor particles and thin films by using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Sr(2)CeO(4) and Sr(2)CeO(4):Eu(3+),Dy(3+) phosphor particles and thin films were prepared by using an emulsion liquid membrane (ELM, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion) system, containing VA-10 (2-methyl-2-ethylheptanoic acid) as extractant (cation carrier). A two-step extraction enabled efficient extraction for Sr(3+) and rare earth ions, and the resulting precursor metal oxalate particles produced in the internal water phase of the ELM system were about 60 nm in diameter. Calcination of the oxalate particles in air gave submicrometer-sized Sr(2)CeO(4) and Sr(2)CeO(4):Eu(3+),Dy(3+) particles, which showed blue and white luminescence, respectively, by UV excitation. Blue and white luminescence phosphor thin films were also prepared by soaking alumina substrates into the W/O emulsion containing precursor oxalate particles, followed by calcination in air.     

Preparation of Y2O3 nanoparticulate thin films using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Y2O3 nanoparticulate thin films have been prepared using an emulsion liquid membrane (water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion) system, consisting of Span 83 (sorbitan sesquioleate) as a surfactant and VA-10 (2-methyl-2-ethylheptanoic acid) as an extractant (cation carrier). Yttrium ions were extracted from the external water phase and stripped into the internal water phase to make precursor oxalate nanoparticles. Y2O3 nanoparticulate thin film was prepared by casting the W/O emulsion, separated from the external phase and containing the Y oxalate nanoparticles, on a Si substrate, followed by calcination in air. Well-arranged thin-layer nanoparticulate film, consisting of Y2O3 nanoparticles smaller than 20 nm, was obtained via spin coating of the W/O emulsion. A multilayer nanoparticulate thin film was also fabricated via a simple procedure of repeated coating and subsequent calcination.     

Preparation of yttrium oxysulfide phosphor nanoparticles with infrared-to-green and -blue upconversion emission using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Yttrium oxysulfide upconverting phosphor nanoparticles, doped with Yb as a sensitizer and Er (or Ho, Tm) as an activator, have been prepared via a solid-gas reaction using precursor oxalate particles obtained in an emulsion liquid membrane (ELM, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion) system. The resulting Y(2)O(2)S:Yb,Er particles, mainly smaller than 50 nm in diameter, demonstrated green upconversion emission under infrared excitation (lambdaex = 980 nm) via a two-photon process. Distinct green and blue upconversion emission were also demonstrated under the same infrared excitation from Y(2)O(2)S:Yb,Ho and Y(2)O(2)S:Yb,Tm nanoparticles, respectively. These upconverting phosphor nanoparticles, together with Y(2)O(3):Yb,Er infrared-to-red upconverting phosphor particles, with different emission under the same infrared excitation may be applied to the luminescent reporter materials for the detection of the targeted analyte in multiplexed assays.     

Synthesis and optical properties of Gd2O3:Pr3+ phosphor particles

Spherical-shaped Gd₂O₃:Pr³⁺ phosphor particles were prepared with different concentrations of Pr³⁺ using the urea homogeneous precipitation method. The resulting Gd₂O₃:Pr³⁺ phosphor particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The effects of the Pr³⁺ doping concentration on the luminescent properties of Gd₂O₃:Pr³⁺ phosphors were investigated. Photoluminescence measurements revealed the Gd₂O₃:1?% Pr³⁺ phosphor particles to have the strongest emission. The luminescence properties of Gd₂O₃:Pr³⁺ particles are strongly affected by the phosphor crystallinity and X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that the crystallinity of Gd₂O₃ cubic structure could be enhanced by increasing the firing temperature. The luminescent Gd₂O₃:Pr³⁺ phosphor particles have potential applications in areas, such as optical display systems, lamps and etc.     

球形Gd2O3∶Eu纳米发光材料的制备

Spherical nanometer Gd₂O₃∶Eu luminescent materials were prepared by homogeneous precipitation method, and the properties were studied also. TG, FTIR and XRD analysis showed that the precursor was carbonate, the cubic Gd₂O₃was obtained after calcination. TEM photographs indicated that the samples were spherical and well dispersed with nanometer and submicrometer size of 200～300 nm which is the nanoparticles’ aggregate. The mechanics of agglomerating growth is also discussed. ED photograph showed that the particle was crystalline. The PL analysis exhibited that CTB band of nanometer Gd₂O₃∶Eu was of 17 nm red shift to bulk materials, and the emission peak was broadened due to the surface and interface effect of nanocrystals.     

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.     

核壳型Gd2O3:Eu3+@Y2O3纳米发光材料的制备与发光性能

采用均相沉淀法制备了均匀球形的Gd2O3:Eu3+@Y2O3核壳结构纳米发光材料.XRD结果表明经过800℃焙烧后样品为立方晶系的Gd2O3,并且晶体发育良好,包覆Y2O3之后Gd2O3的衍射峰位置无明显变化,但随着包覆厚度的增加,出现了立方晶系Y2O3的衍射峰.FTIR谱图观测到了Gd-O,Y-O伸缩振动吸收峰,随着包覆厚度的减少吸收峰增强,认为当包覆层的厚度适当时,颗粒表面的悬空键(断键)变少,Gd(Eu,Y)-O键增多所致.SEM表明包覆前后样品为均匀分散的球形结构.XPS分析进一步证明了表面包覆上了Y2O3.荧光光谱表明:纳米Gd2O3:Eu3+表面包覆不同厚度的基质Y2O3后,均观测到Eu3+离子的特征红光发射,当包覆厚度R=4:1时的发光强度比未包覆的Gd2O3:Eu3+增强,认为核-壳型样品降低了纳米Gd2O3:Eu3+的表面效应给发光强度带来的负面影响.     

Characterization and luminescence properties of Gd2O3 phosphor

Gd₂O₃ phosphor was synthesized by combustion synthesis using gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate as precursor and urea as fuel. Structural and surface morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical composition analysis of the phosphor was performed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and tts optical properties were characterized by use of photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. In PL spectra, feeble emission at 490 nm (blue) and intense emission at approximately 545 nm (green) are observed after excitation at 300 nm. TL measurement was performed on the Gd₂O₃ phosphor by irradiating it with γ-rays (1 kGy). A well resolved glow peak at 226.4 °C was observed. Kinetic data were estimated from the TL glow curve by use of Chen’s peak-shape method; the results are discussed in detail. The average particle size of the Gd₂O₃ phosphor was 41 nm; a monoclinic phase was formed at a firing temperature of 500 °C. This was in agreement with SEM and TEM results.     

A luminescent and mesoporous core-shell structured Gd2O3 : Eu(3+)@nSiO2@mSiO2 nanocomposite as a drug carrier

In this paper, Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) nanospheres have been encapsulated with nonporous silica and further layer of ordered mesoporous silica through a simple sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N(2) adsorption/desorption, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and kinetic decay were used to characterize the sample. The results indicate that the nanocomposite with general 50 nm shell thickness and 270 nm core size shows typical ordered mesoporous characteristics (2.4 nm) and has spherical morphology with a smooth surface and narrow size distribution. Additionally, the obtained inorganic nanocomposite shows the characteristic emission of Eu(3+) ((5)D(0)→(7)F(1-4)) even after the loading of drug molecules. The biocompatibility test on L929 fibroblast cells using MTT assay reveals low cytotoxicity of the system. Most importantly, the nanocomposite can be used as an effective drug delivery carrier. A typical anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), was used for drug loading, and the DOX release, cytotoxicity, uptake behavior and therapeutic effects were examined. It was found that DOX is shuttled into the cell by the nanocomposite and released inside cells after endocytosis and that the DOX-loaded nanocomposite exhibited greater cytotoxicity than free DOX. These results indicate that core-shell structured Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)@nSiO(2)@mSiO(2) nanocomposite has potential for drug loading and delivery into cancer cells to induce cell death.     

Synthesis and properties of europium-based phosphors on the nanometer scale: Eu2O3, Gd2O3:Eu, and Y2O3:Eu

Nanocrystals of oxides containing europium as the main constituent or as a doping element in RE2O3 ( RE=Y, Gd) have been prepared by direct oxide precipitation in high-boiling polyalcohol solutions and characterized by high-resolution TEM, absorption spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy. The samples obtained consisted of concentrated and colloidally stable suspensions of luminescent oxide nanoparticles with an average grain diameter in the range 2-5 nm. The nanoparticles were found to be highly crystalline despite their ultrasmall size and the low temperature of 180 degrees C applied during the synthesis. Upon UV excitation, the red luminescence relative to the 5D0-->7Fn transition within the cubic form of RE2O3 exhibits some important differences from that usually found in bulk materials.     

Gd2O3:Eu3+ X射线溶胶-凝胶发光薄膜的制备与表征

高分辨率X射线成像系统要求其发光材料同时具有X射线截止本领强、光产额高、余辉短以及与光电器件波长匹配好等特性. Gd2O3:Eu3 因其优越的发光性能和Eu3 红光发射等优点而在高能射线激发发光材料中占有重要地位. 近几年发展起来的透明X射线薄膜发光材料具有更高的衬度和空间分辨率、热传导率、均匀性和附着力等优点[1], 因而有望成为取代传统荧光粉的新一代X射线成像材料. 在各种薄膜制备工艺中, 溶胶-凝胶法以其价格低廉、工艺简单、制备温度低、均匀性好、可实现微量掺杂等优点而日益受到人们重视, 通过该方法并辅以适当的后处理工艺可制备出透明、致密的薄膜.     

Synthesis and properties of the TTA/Gd2O3: Eu3+ luminescent system

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Hybrid materials based on lanthanide ions or lanthanide-doped nanostructured particles have received a lot of recent attention because organic ligands...     

Preparation, characterization and photoluminescence properties of BaB2O4: Eu3+ red phosphor

A new red emitting BaB2O4: Eu3+ phosphor was synthesized by solid-state reaction method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the monoclinic formation of BaB2O4. Field-emission scanning electron-microscopy (FE-SEM) observation indicated that the microstructure of the phosphor consisted of irregular grains with heavy agglomerate phenomena. Upon excitation with 394 nm light, the BaB2O4: Eu3+ phosphor shows bright red emissions with the highest photoluminescence (PL) intensity at 611 nm due to 5D0→7F2 transitions of Eu3+ ions. The CIE chromaticity coordinates are calculated from the emission spectrum to be x=0.64, y=0.35. The effects of the Eu3+ concentration on the PL were investigated. The results showed that the optimum concentration of Eu3+ in BaB2O4 host is 6 mol% and the dipole-dipole interaction plays the major role in the mechanism of concentration quenching of Eu3+ in BaB2O4: Eu3+ phosphor. The effect of charge compensation on the emission intensity was also studied. The charge compensations of Li+, Na+ and K+ anions all increased the luminescent intensity of BaB2O4: Eu3+. K+ anion gave the best improvement to enhance the intensity of the emission, indicating K+ is the optimal charge compensator. All properties show that this phosphor could serve as a potential candidate for application as a red phosphor for NUV chip LED.     

3D flower-like Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanostructures: template-free synthesis and its luminescence properties

In this work, a facile route using simple hydrothermal reaction and sequential calcinations to synthesize 3-dimensional flower-like Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanoarchitectures without employing templates or matrix for self-assembly is presented. The flower-like nanostructures are composed of nanosheets with thickness of about 30 nm, which is verified by the field-emission electron microscopy (FESEM). Influencing factors such as the dosage of reactants, the solvent, and pH are systematically investigated. The time-dependent experiments indicate a self-assembly mechanism. This method is also applicable in the preparation of other lanthanide oxides. The PL spectra of the as-synthesized Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) are systematically studied. Both the Eu(3+) concentration and the calcinations temperature have great effect on the luminescence intensity of (5)D(0)-(7)F(2) transition. The decay curve of the (5)D(0) transition shows that the lifetime of the as-obtained Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) is about 2.4 ms.     

立方Gd2O3∶Eu纳米晶及光谱性质

用透射电镜拍摄球形ＣＧｄ２Ｏ３∶Ｅｕ纳米晶,并研究了室温下它的激发和发射光谱。结果表明,９００℃制备的体材料和相应的纳米晶相比,其激发光谱存在明显差异。前者以基质激发带为主导,电荷转移带（ＣＴＢ）很弱,而后者以ＣＴＢ为主。在绝缘体稀土氧化物中,可以忽略纳米效应对Ｅｕ３＋离子的４ｆ４ｆ能级跃迁的激发和发射光谱峰位的影响     

Thermoluminescence studies of UV-irradiated Y2O3:Eu3+ doped phosphor

The present paper reports thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of Eu³⁺-doped Y₂O₃ phosphor with different ultraviolet (UV) exposure times. The glow peak shows second-order kinetics of Eu³⁺-doped Y₂O₃, and corresponding kinetic parameters were evaluated using the peak shape method. Calculations of trap depth were carried out using different methods. The kinetics order, activation energy, and frequency factor were calculated. The recorded glow curve shifts towards higher intensity with longer UV exposure. The heating rate used for recording TL was 3.0 °C s^?1. Particle size and structure were verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.     

痕量双掺Sm3+和Gd3+对Y2O2S:Eu3+发光特性的影响

通过对Y2O2SEu3+红色荧光粉痕量引入Sm3+和Gd3+的研究, 发现可有效地增强发光强度, 明显改善其电压特性(发射强度与激发电压间的关系特性), 且不影响材料的其他物理化学性能. 讨论和分析了发射强度增强、电压特性改善的原因 Gd3+对Y3+的置换, 减少了因Eu3+对Y3+置换所引起的晶格的畸变、缺陷, 使Eu3+离子晶场环境得到改善, 从而减弱了无辐射过程及因晶格畸变所造成的能量损失;Sm3+的发射与Eu3+的吸收(激发)的部分重叠, 且Eu3+激发光谱中包含有Sm3+激发跃迁谱线, 导致了Sm3+→Eu3+共振能量传递可能性, 有效地实现Sm3+对Eu3+的敏化效应.     

Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters and spectral properties of Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystals

Three nonequivalent centers of Cs (A, B, and C) in monoclinic phase and C2 and S6 centers in cubic phase were identified in the Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystals with spectral techniques. Size dependence in the spectra indicated that the excitations from both host and charge-transfer band (CTB) for the 5D0 --> 7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions were nearly equal for a larger size of 135 nm of the cubic phase; however, with decreasing the size to or less than 23 nm, the excitations by the CTB dominated. The variation of excitation leading to the symmetry and energy change in the C2 and S6 sites was also observed for larger particle sizes. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(lambda) (lambda = 2, 4) for Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanoparticles were experimentally determined. The parameters Omega(lambda) were found to significantly change with the sizes of Gd2O3:Eu3+ from nanoparticles to bulk material. With decreasing the size from 135 to 15 nm, the quantum efficiencies for 5D0 reduced from 23.6% to 4.6% due to the increasing ratio of surface to volume.     

The effect of the size of raw Gd(OH)3 precipitation on the crystal structure and PL properties of Gd2O3:Eu

Our experiments show that cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has an obvious effect on the particle size of the precipitation of Gd(OH)3. Without CTAB, the particle size of the Gd(OH)3 precipitation is about 50 nm, whereas with CTAB, the particle size is less than 5 nm. We propose a mechanism where CTAB micelles work as a catalyst for the nucleation process and result in the precipitation of 5 nm particles. These small particles, after heat treatment at 1073 K, did not result in small Gd2O3 nanoparticles of the same size, but instead, forming crystals of 30-80 nm size in both cubic and monoclinic phases. When monitoring the photoluminescence (PL) peak at 610 nm, we found that the charge transfer state (CTS) absorption amplitude of Eu-O is reduced in the mixed structures. We speculate that the mixed structures modify the surface properties of the Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles, leading to the reduction of Eu-O CTS absorption.