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.     

The chemical and dielectric properties of epoxy/(Ba0.8Sr0.2)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3 composites for embedded capacitor application

The characteristics of epoxy/(Ba_0.8Sr_0.2)(Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ (BSTZ) composites are investigated for the further application in embedded capacitor device. The effects of BSTZ ceramic powder filler ratio on the chemical, physical and dielectric properties of epoxy/BSTZ composites are studied. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermal analysis is conducted to determine the optimum values of hardener agent, curing temperature, reaction heat, and glass transition temperature (T_g). The hardener reaction process starts at about 115 °C and completes at about 200 °C, for that it is appropriate to process of epoxy/BSTZ composites in the range of temperature. The highest glass transition temperature (T_g) of 155 °C is obtained at one equivalent weight ratio (hardener/epoxy). Only the BSTZ phase can be detected in the XRD patterns of epoxy/BSTZ composites. The more BSTZ ceramic powder is mixed with epoxy, the higher crystalline intensity of tetragonal BSTZ phase are revealed in the XRD patterns. The dielectric constant measured at 1 MHz increases from 5.8 to 23.6 as the content of BSTZ ceramic powder in the epoxy/BSTZ composites increases from 10 to 70 wt%. The loss tangents of the epoxy/BSTZ composites slightly increase with the increase of measurement frequency.     

A structure, conductivity and dielectric properties investigation of A3CoNb2O9 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) triple perovskites

The room temperature structures as well as the temperature-dependent conductivity and dielectric properties of the A₃CoNb₂O₉ (A=Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) triple perovskites have been carefully investigated. A constrained modulation wave approach to Rietveld structure refinement is used to determine their room temperature crystal structures. Correlations between these crystal structures and their physical properties are found. All three compounds undergo insulator to semiconductor phase transitions as a function of increasing temperature. The hexagonal Ba₃CoNb₂O₉ compound acts as an insulator at room temperature, while the monoclinic Ca₃CoNb₂O₉ compound is already a semiconductor at room temperature. The measured dielectric frequency characteristics of the A=Ba compound are excellent.     

A new promising phosphor, Na3La2(BO3)3:Ln (Ln=Eu, Tb)

We present an efficient way to search a host for ultraviolet (UV) phosphor from UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. With the guidance, Na₃La₂(BO₃)₃ (NLBO), as a promising NLO material with a broad transparency range and high damage threshold, was adopted as a host material for the first time. The lanthanide ions (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-doped NLBO phosphors have been synthesized by solid-state reaction. Luminescent properties of the Ln-doped (Ln=Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺) sodium lanthanum borate were investigated under UV ray excitation. The emission spectrum was employed to probe the local environments of Eu³⁺ ions in NLBO crystal. For red phosphor, NLBO:Eu, the measured dominating emission peak was at 613 nm, which is attributed to ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. The luminescence indicates that the local symmetry of Eu³⁺ in NLBO crystal lattice has no inversion center. Optimum Eu³⁺ concentration of NLBO:Eu³⁺ under UV excitation with 395 nm wavelength is about 30 mol%. The green phosphor, NLBO:Tb, showed bright green emission at 543 with 252 nm excited light. The measured concentration quenching curve demonstrated that the maximum concentration of Tb³⁺ in NLBO was about 20%. The luminescence mechanism of Ln-doped NLBO (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) was analyzed. The relative high quenching concentration was also discussed.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure and property of nano-BaTiO3-based dielectric materials

A series of Ba_1-xSr_xTi_1-yZr_yO₃ (0≤x≤0.5, 0≤y≤0.4) and BA_1?xZn_xTi_1?ySn_yO₃ (0≤x≤0.3, 0≤y≤0.3) solid solutions were synthesized by low-temperature/low-pressure hydrothermal method below 170°C, 0.8 MPa. XRD pattern and cell parameters-composition figures of these prepared powders demonstrated that they are completely miscible solid solutions based on BaTiO₃. Furthermore, TEM showed that they have a shape of uniform, substantially spherical particles with an average particle size of 70 nm in diameter. The sintered ceramics of those powders doped by Sr²⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ or Zn²⁺ and Sn⁴⁺ have dielectric constant twelve times higher than and dielectric loss 1/6 those of pure BaTiO₃ phase at room temperature.     

Synthesis, structure and dielectric properties of Ba1-xSrxMyTi1-yO3 (M = Zr, Sn)

A series of Ba_1-xSr_xM_yTi_1-yO₃ (M = Zr, Sn, 0⩽x⩽0.4, 0⩽y⩽0.3) solid solutions were synthesized with the soft chemical method below 100 °C. XRD pattern and cell parameters-composition figures of the prepared powder demonstrate that they are completely miscible solid solutions based on BaTiO₃. Furthermore, TEM shows that they have a shape of uniform, substantially spherical particles with an average particle size of 70 nm in diameter. The sintered ceramics of the powder doped with Sr²+and Zr⁴⁺ or Sn⁴⁺ have dielectric constant eight times higher and dielectric loss thirty per cent lower than those of pure BaTiO₃ phase at room temperature.     

A combined diffraction and dielectric properties investigation of Ba3MnNb2O9 complex perovskites

A combined synthesis, diffraction and dielectric properties investigation of the dependence (and effect) of Mn²⁺/Nb⁵⁺ ordering in Ba₃MnNb₂O₉ (BMN) upon annealing atmosphere and processing conditions has been carried out. Annealing in different atmospheres was not found to significantly alter either nominal stoichiometry or structure type. The obtained structure type (disordered metrically cubic or ordered trigonal) as well as the measured electrical properties (in particular, the dielectric loss) were, however, found to be sensitive to the synthesis route. Samples obtained via solid-state reaction were found to be predominantly of 1:2 Mn²⁺/Nb⁵⁺ ordered, trigonal structure type whereas samples obtained via an aqueous solution route were found to be of a Mn²⁺/Nb⁵⁺ ‘disordered’, metrically cubic structure type. All solid-state synthesized samples showed reasonable dielectric properties. The microwave dielectric constant and dielectric quality factor, Q, at 8 GHz of an as-synthesized BMN sample were 38 and 100, respectively. By contrast, the dielectric loss of the metrically cubic, Mn²⁺/Nb⁵⁺ ‘disordered’ samples obtained via an aqueous solution synthesis process were significantly worse.     

Dielectric properties and I-V characteristics of (Pb<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films improved by TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> buffer layers

A TiO₂ thin buffer layer was introduced between the (Pb_0.4Sr_0.6)TiO₃ (PST) film and the Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate in an attempt to improve their electrical properties. Both TiO₂ and PST layers were prepared by a chemical solution deposition method. It was found that the TiO₂ buffer layer increased the (100)/(001) preferred orientation of PST and decreased the surface roughness of the films, leading to an enhancement in electrical properties including an increase in dielectric constant and in its tunability by DC voltage, as well as a decrease in dielectric loss and leakage current density. At an optimized thickness of the TiO₂ buffer layer deposited using 0.02 mol/l TiO₂ sol, the 330-nm-thick PST films had a dielectric constant, loss and tunability of 1126, 0.044 and 60.7% at 10 kHz, respectively, while the leakage current density was 1.95 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm² at 100 kV/cm.     

致密的5%Al3+掺杂的SnP2O7-SnO2复合陶瓷在中温燃料电池中的应用

首先制备了未掺杂和5%(摩尔分数)Al³⁺掺杂SnO₂的多孔性基片, 然后将基片与85%的H₃PO₄在600℃下反应, 分别得到了致密的未掺杂和5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品. 采用X射线衍射(XRD), 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线能量色散谱(EDS)测试方法对样品进行了表征, 采用电化学阻抗谱法(EIS)测试了样品在中温(100-250℃)下, 湿润空气和湿润氢气气氛中的电导率. 结果表明, 在湿润空气和湿润氢气中, 5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品的电导率均高于未掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品的电导率, 且该复合陶瓷样品在湿润空气和湿润氢气中250℃下, 电导率分别达到最大值: 4.30×10^-2和6.25×10^-2 S·cm^-1, 高于至今报道的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂基复合陶瓷及SnP₂O₇基陶瓷在类似条件下的电导率. 以5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品(厚度: 1.45 mm)为电解质, 多孔性铂为电极组装成的氢气/空气燃料电池具有良好的中温电池性能, 175、200、250℃的最大输出功率密度分别为52.0、61.9、82.3 mW·cm^-2. 良好的中温电池性能与该复合陶瓷电解质较高的电导率和致密度及该燃料电池较低的界面极化电阻有关.     

Research on Molecular Structure and Electronic Properties of Ln3+ (Ce3+, Tb3+, Pr3+)/Li+ and Eu2+ Co-Doped Sr2Si5N8 via DFT Calculation

We use density functional theory (DFT) to study the molecular structure and electronic band structure of Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ doped with trivalent lanthanides (Ln³⁺ = Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺, Pr³⁺). Li⁺ was used as a charge compensator for the charge imbalance caused by the partial replacement of Sr²⁺ by Ln³⁺. The doping of Ln lanthanide atom causes the structure of Sr₂Si₅N₈ lattice to shrink due to the smaller atomic radius of Ln³⁺ and Li⁺ compared to Sr²⁺. The doped structure’s formation energy indicates that the formation energy of Li⁺, which is used to compensate for the charge imbalance, is the lowest when the Sr2 site is doped. Thus, a suitable Li⁺ doping site for double-doped lanthanide ions can be provided. In Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺, the doped Ce³⁺ can occupy partly the site of Sr₁²⁺ ([SrN₈]), while Eu²⁺ accounts for Sr₁²⁺ and Sr₂²⁺ ([SrN₁₀]). When the Pr³⁺ ion is selected as the dopant in Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺, Pr³⁺ and Eu²⁺ would replace Sr₂²⁺ simultaneously. In this theoretical model, the replacement of Sr²⁺ by Tb³⁺ cannot exist reasonably. For the electronic structure, the energy level of Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺/Li⁺ doped with Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ appears at the bottom of the conduction band or in the forbidden band, which reduces the energy bandgap of Sr₂Si₅N₈. We use DFT+U to adjust the lanthanide ion 4f energy level. The adjusted 4f-CBM of Ce_Sr1Li_Sr1-Sr₂Si₅N₈ is from 2.42 to 2.85 eV. The energy range of 4f-CBM in Pr_Sr1Li_Sr1-Sr₂Si₅N₈ is 2.75–2.99 eV and its peak is 2.90 eV; the addition of Ce³⁺ in Eu_Sr1Ce_Sr1Li_Sr1 made the 4f energy level of Eu²⁺ blue shift. The addition of Pr³⁺ in Eu_Sr2Pr_Sr2Li_Sr1 makes part of the Eu²⁺ 4f energy level blue shift. Eu²⁺ 4f energy level in Eu_Sr2Ce_Sr1Li_Sr1 is not in the forbidden band, so Eu²⁺ is not used as the emission center.     

Origins of Giant Dielectric Properties with Low Loss Tangent in Rutile (Mg1/3Ta2/3)0.01Ti0.99O2 Ceramic

The Mg²⁺/Ta⁵⁺ codoped rutile TiO₂ ceramic with a nominal composition (Mg_1/3Ta_2/3)_0.01Ti_0.99O₂ was synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method and sintered at 1400 °C for 2 h. The pure phase of the rutile TiO₂ structure with a highly dense microstructure was obtained. A high dielectric permittivity (2.9 × 10⁴ at 10³ Hz) with a low loss tangent (<0.025) was achieved in the as-sintered ceramic. After removing the outer surface, the dielectric permittivity of the polished ceramic increased from 2.9 × 10⁴ to 6.0 × 10⁴, while the loss tangent also increased (~0.11). The dielectric permittivity and loss tangent could be recovered to the initial value of the as-sintered ceramic by annealing the polished ceramic in air. Notably, in the temperature range of −60–200 °C, the dielectric permittivity (10³ Hz) of the annealed ceramic was slightly dependent (<±4.4%), while the loss tangent was very low (0.015–0.036). The giant dielectric properties were likely contributed by the insulating grain boundaries and insulative surface layer effects.     

原位红外光谱法研究La/TiO2对有机污染物的光催化降解

本工作采用改进的溶胶-凝胶法和浸渍法制备了TiO₂掺杂稀土离子La³⁺的La/TiO₂光催化剂，运用XRD、N₂吸附脱附、紫外可见漫反射光谱(DRS)、表面光电压谱(SPS)等手段进行表征，同时利用原位红外技术考察了La/TiO₂样品光催化降解乙烯、丙酮、苯的气-固相光催化氧化反应，对其光催化降解有机污染物的过程进行了研究。结果表明，TiO₂经适量La³⁺掺杂后，锐钛矿晶型的含量增加，晶粒度减小，比表面积增大，禁带宽度增加，表面光电压信号增强，光生电子-空穴对有效分离；La/TiO₂样品对乙烯、丙酮、苯的光催化性能与纯TiO₂相比均有不同程度的改善，乙烯可以被光催化氧化完全矿化生成CO₂，而丙酮被光催化氧化可能生成中间产物丙酸，苯被光催化氧化可能生成中间产物苯酚和苯醌。     

颜色可调Sr3Y（BO3）3∶Tm3+，Dy3+荧光粉的发光性能及能量传递

采用高温固相法制备了Sr_3Y(BO_3)_3:xTm~(3+),yDy~(3+)荧光粉,并通过XRD、SEM和荧光光谱仪对样品的物相、微观形貌、发光性能、能量传递机制和CIE色坐标进行了分析。结果表明:Sr_3Y(BO_3)_3:xTm~(3+)荧光粉在监测波长为359 nm时发射蓝光,Tm~(3+)的浓度淬灭点为x=0.08;在Sr_3Y(BO_3)_3:0.08Tm~(3+),yDy~(3+)荧光粉中,随着Dy~(3+)掺杂浓度的增加,Tm~(3+)的发光强度降低而Dy~(3+)发光强度却先增加后降低,Dy~(3+)的浓度淬灭点为y=0.1;通过改变Dy~(3+)掺杂浓度或改变激发光的波长,均可实现发射光的颜色可调;在Tm~(3+)-Dy~(3+)离子之间存在能量传递。当Dy~(3+)掺杂浓度(物质的量分数)为0.15时能量传递效率达75.14%,能量传递机制为电偶极-电偶极相互作用。     

Microstructure,dielectric and piezoelectric properties of (Pb1−xSrx)Nb1.96Ti0.05O6 ceramics

(Pb_1−xSr_x)Nb_1.96Ti_0.05O₆ with 2 wt% excess PbO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) piezoelectric ceramics with high Curie temperature were fabricated via the conventional solid state reaction method. Effects of Sr²⁺ amount on crystallite structure, microstructure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties were studied. The substitution of Sr²⁺ ions for Pb²⁺ ions is effective to lower sintering temperatures. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that all ceramics form the single orthorhombic ferroelectric phase. The doping of Sr²⁺ ions facilitates improving densification of the ceramics. Grain size and lattice parameters of the ceramics vary with the change of the Sr²⁺ contents. Both Curie temperature and maximum dielectric constant change with increasing the Sr²⁺ amounts. The dielectric constant data were also studied using the Curie–Weiss law and modified Curie–Weiss law. The ceramic with x = 0.04 possesses excellent piezoelectric and dielectric properties, presenting a high potential to be used in high-temperature applications as piezoelectric transducers.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of Sb-doped Sr3(PO4)2

Sb³⁺-doped Sr₃(PO₄)₂ crystals has been synthesized using phosphoric acid, strontium hydroxide and antimony powder as the raw materials through a hydrothermal reaction method. The crystallinity and the microstructure were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The photoluminescent property was investigated using luminescent spectrometer. Phase pure Sr₃(PO₄)₂ crystal was obtained and it has a shape of hexagonal rod. It showed the emission and excitation peaks at 396, 250, and 215 nm, respectively, indicating that the emission is attributed to ³P₁-¹S₀ transition and the excitation is attributed to ¹S₀-³P₁ and ¹S₀-¹P₁ transition. It was also observed that the intensity of photoluminescence is thermally stable up to 673 K.     

原位红外光谱法研究Gd3+掺杂TiO2光催化降解乙烯性能

随着环境污染的日益严重,寻求环境友好、节能、高效的污染治理技术已成为各国科学研究者致力的目标。以TiO2半导体为主的多相光催化氧化技术因与传统污染处理技术相比具有许多优点而倍受青睐,但是,目前以TiO2为基础的光催化技术还存在量子效率低、太阳能利用率低等技术难题[1,2     

Preparation and Application of Ca0.8 Sr0.2 TiO3 for Plasma Activation of CO2

Despite a large interest in plasma-assisted catalytic technology (PACT), very little has been reported about the catalytic effects of different dielectric barriers on a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reaction. In the present study, Ca_0.8Sr_0.2TiO₃, that possesses a high permittivity, was prepared by liquid phase sintering and used as a dielectric barrier in a DBD reactor to break CO₂. The mechanical and dielectric properties of Ca_0.8Sr_0.2TiO₃ were greatly enhanced by adding 0.5 wt.% Li₂Si₂O₅. A DBD plasma was successfully generated by using this Ca_0.8Sr_0.2TiO₃ as a dielectric barrier and 18.8% CO₂ conversion was achieved with the residence time of 0.17 s at the frequency of 8 kHz, which was much higher than with those using an alumina or a silica glass barrier. It was found that the plasma power increased with the increasing of the permittivity, and finally very dense and strong microdischarges were initiated to decompose CO₂.     

Ni2+掺杂Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5电极的制备及性能

采用溶胶凝胶法制备了Ni2+掺杂的Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5电极,并通过XRD、SEM、EDS、苯酚降解、加速寿命实验等技术手段,研究了Ni2+的掺杂对电极的结构、形貌、电催化性能及稳定性的影响。结果表明:Ni2+的掺入细化了SnO2晶粒,增大了电极的比表面积,改善了电极表面的龟裂程度,提高了电极的导电性能;相对于Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5电极Ni2+的掺入将苯酚完全降解的时间缩短为原来的40%,将电极的使用寿命提高为原来的4.8倍。     

Microwave synthesis and photoluminescent properties of Sr2CeO4/Ln3+ (Ln = Er, Ho, Tm)

Sr₂CeO₄/Ln³⁺ (Ln = Er, Ho, Tm) phosphors were synthesized with the microwave radiation method for the first time. The luminescent properties of the samples were investigated and the up-conversion luminescence of Er³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ doped Sr₂CeO₄ phosphors was observed. The spectra indicate that the energy transfer takes place from the triplet excited state of MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) state for Sr₂CeO₄ (sensitizer) to the rare earth ions (activator). __________ Translated from Journal of Hebei Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 2007, 31(2): 212–216 [译自: 河北师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

A new phosphor with flower-like structure and luminescent properties of Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>MgSi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>: Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Dy<Superscript>3+</Superscript> long afterglow materials by sol–gel method

The flower-like phosphors of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ with high brightness and long afterglow were obtained by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) shows that single-phased Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ phosphor is prepared by sol–gel method under 1250 °C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicates that the phosphor consists of nano-sized whiskers which are detected for the first time in Eu²⁺ and Dy³⁺ co-doped long-lasting phosphorescence silicates. Furthermore, the investigation on the mechanism indicates that the internal structure and gas, liquid and solid phase effect play important roles in the formation of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ nanostructure. Finally, the optical properties of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ nanostructure have been characterized by photoluminescence (PL) spectra.