Strong near-infrared luminescence in BaSnO3

Powdered samples of the perovskite BaSnO(3) exhibit strong near-infrared (NIR) luminescence at room temperature, following band-gap excitation at 380 nm (3.26 eV). The emission spectrum is characterized by a broad band centered at 905 nm (1.4 eV), tailing on the high-energy side to approximately 760 nm. The Stokes shift is 1.9 eV, and measured lifetimes in the range 7-18 ms depend on preparative conditions. These extraordinary long values indicate that the luminescence involves a defect state(s). At low temperatures, both a sharp peak and a broad band appear in the visible portion of the luminescence spectrum at approximately 595 nm. Upon cooling, the intensity of the NIR emission decreases, while the integrated intensities of the visible emission features increase to approximately 40% of the NIR intensity at 77 K. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) is observed across the Ba(1-x)Sr(x)SnO(3) series. As the strontium content increases, the excitation maximum and band gap shift further into the UV, while the intensity of the NIR emission peak decreases and shifts further into the infrared. This combination leads to an unexpectedly large increase in the Stokes shift. The unusual NIR PL in BaSnO(3) may originate from recombination of a photogenerated valence-band hole and an occupied donor level, probably associated with a Sn(2+) ion situated roughly 1.4 eV above the valence-band edge.     

Strong blue emission from Pr3+ ions through energy transfer process from Nd3+ to Pr3+ via Yb3+ in tellurite glass

Energy transfer excited upconversion emission in Nd3+/Pr3+-codped tellurite glass have been studied on pumping with 800 nm wavelength. The upconversion emission bands from Pr3+ ion are observed at the 488, 524, 546, 612, 647, 672, 708 and 723 nm due to the (3P0 + 3P1)-->3H4, 3P1-->3H5, 3P0-->3H5, 3P0-->3H6, 3P0-->3F2, 3P1-->3F3, 3P0-->3F3 and 3P0-->3F4 transitions, respectively. The addition of ytterbium ions (Yb3+) on the upconversion emission intensity is also studied and result shows an eight times enhancement in the upconversion intensity at 488 nm from Pr3+ ions. The pump power and concentration dependence studies are also made. It is found that Yb3+ ions transfer its excitation energy to Nd3+ from which it goes to Pr3+. No direct transfer to Pr3+ is seen. This is verified by codoping Nd3+ and Pr3+ into the host.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Ce3+ and Eu2+-activated Ca7Mg(SiO4)4 phosphors for solid state lighting

Ce(3+) and Eu(2+) singly doped and Ce(3+)/Eu(2+)-codoped Ca(7)Mg(SiO(4))(4) phosphors are synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction. The Ce(3+) activated sample exhibits intense blue emission under 350 nm excitation, the composition-optimized Ca(7)Mg(SiO(4))(4)?:?4%Ce(3+) shows better color purity than the commercial blue phosphor, BaMgAl(10)O(17)?:?Eu(2+) (BAM?:?Eu(2+)) and exhibits superior external quantum efficiency (65%). The Ca(7)Mg(SiO(4))(4)?:?Eu(2+) powder shows a broad emission band in the wavelength range of 400-600 nm with a maximum at about 500 nm. The strong excitation bands of the Ca(7)Mg(SiO(4))(4)?:?Eu(2+) in the wavelength range of 250-450 nm are favorable properties for applications as light-emitting-diode conversion phosphors. Furthermore, the energy transfer from the Ce(3+) to Eu(2+) ions is observed in the codoped samples, the resonance-type energy transfer is determined to be due to the dipole-dipole interaction mechanism and the critical distance is obtained through the spectral overlap approach and concentration quenching method.     

Luminescent Study on Nd3+ Complexes Containing Carboxylate‐Dithiolene and Alkoxide‐Dithiolene Ligands

Reaction of ligand L H₂ (4,5‐bis[carboxymethylthio]‐1,3‐dithiol‐2‐thione) with neodymium silyl‐amide (Nd[N(TMS)₂]₃; TMS= ‐SiMe₃), in a ratio 2:1, yields a neodymium‐dithiolene‐carboxylato complex ( 1 ) (Nd( L H) L ). Similarly, reaction of 2 equivalents of L′ H₂ (4,5‐bis[2′‐hydroxyethyl)thio]‐1,3‐dithiol‐2‐thione) and one equivalent of neodymium silyl‐amide (Nd[N(TMS)₂]₃) allowed the isolation of complex 2 , with a ligand:metal ratio of 3:2. ATR‐IR spectrum of 1 displays a broad band characteristic of an OH group showing that one carboxylate group remains protonated. Emission spectrum of complex 1 under excitation in the visible region (at 360 nm i.e. on the ligand) displayed typical emission bands of the Nd³⁺, showing that energy transfer from the ligand to the lanthanide was achieved (i.e. “antenna effect”). No significant quenching from the remaining –OH group was detected. In the case of complex 2 , the main emission bands characteristic of the Nd³⁺ ion have been observed, by excitation at 495 nm.     

Host sensitization of Tb3+ ions in tribarium lanthanide borates Ba3Ln (BO3)3 (Ln = Lu and Gd)

The vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopic properties of undoped and Tb(3+)-doped borates Ba(3)Ln(BO(3))(3) (Ln = Lu and Gd) with different crystal structures were investigated by using synchrotron radiation. Ba(3)Lu(BO(3))(3) (BLB) crystallizes in a hexagonal structure, whereas Ba(3)Gd(BO(3))(3) (BGB) crystallizes in a trigonal structure. The maximum host absorption for BLB and BGB was found to locate at ~179 and ~195 nm, respectively. Upon host excitation, BLB exhibits an intrinsic broad UV emission centered at 339 nm, which is attributed to the recombination of self-trapped excitons that may presumably be associated with band-gap excitations or molecular transitions within the BO(3)(3-) group. In contrast to BLB, no broad emission but line emission ascribed to a Gd(3+)(6)P(J)-(8)S(7/2) transition was observed in the emission spectrum of BGB. Upon doping of Tb(3+) ions into the hosts of BLB and BGB, an efficient energy transfer from the host excitations to Tb(3+) via host/Gd(3+) emission was observed, showing that host sensitization of Tb(3+) occurs in these rare-earth borates.     

Promising oxonitridosilicate phosphor host Sr3Si2O4N2: synthesis, structure, and luminescence properties activated by Eu2+ and Ce3+/Li+ for pc-LEDs

A novel oxonitridosilicate phosphor host Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2) was synthesized in N(2)/H(2) (6%) atmosphere by solid state reaction at high temperature using SrCO(3), SiO(2), and Si(3)N(4) as starting materials. The crystal structure was determined by a Rietveld analysis on powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data. Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2) crystallizes in cubic symmetry with space group Pa ?3, Z = 24, and cell parameter a = 15.6593(1) ?. The structure of Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2) is constructed by isolated and highly corrugated 12 rings which are composed of 12 vertex-sharing [SiO(2)N(2)] tetrahedra with bridging N and terminal O to form three-dimensional tunnels to accommodate the Sr(2+) ions. The calculated band structure shows that Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2) is an indirect semiconductor with a band gap ≈ 2.84 eV, which is close to the experimental value ≈ 2.71 eV from linear extrapolation of the diffuse reflection spectrum. Sr(3-x)Si(2)O(4)N(2):xEu(2+) shows a typical emission band peaking at ~600 nm under 460 nm excitation, which perfectly matches the emission of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes. For Ce(3+)/Li(+)-codoped Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2), one excitation band is in the UV range (280-350 nm) and the other in the UV blue range (380-420 nm), which matches emission of near-UV light-emitting diodes. Emission of Sr(3-2x)Si(2)O(4)N(2):xCe(3+),xLi(+) shows a asymmetric broad band peaking at ~520 nm. The long-wavelength excitation and emission of Eu(2+) and Ce(3+)/Li(+)-doped Sr(3)Si(2)O(4)N(2) make them attractive for applications in phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes.     

Emission and excitation spectra of Ce3+ and Pr3+ ions in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices

The emission and excitation spectra of Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) doped into the cubic host Cs(2)NaYF(6) have been recorded at room temperature and ～10 K using synchrotron radiation. The two 5d(1) T(2g) states of Ce(3+) have been located from the excitation spectra, whereas the E(g) state is placed above the host band gap. Decay measurements of the 5d(1) → 4f(1) Ce(3+) emission, and spectra collected using selective excitation, indicate the occupation of more than one type of site by Ce(3+) in this host lattice. By contrast, the location of features in the 4f(1)5d(1) → 4f(2) emission of Pr(3+) is independent of the excitation wavelength. Assignments are presented for some of the 4f(1)5d(1) levels and for the Pr(3+)-F(-) charge transfer band. The 5d emission lifetimes for Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) in the Cs(2)NaYF(6) host are 42 and 29 ± 1 ns, respectively, and are not temperature-dependent.     

Optical characterization of Sm3+ and Dy3+:ZnO-PbO-B2O3 glasses

Here, we present the results of the analysis of Sm(3+) or Dy(3+) (0.5 mol%) ions doped heavy metal oxide (HMO)-based zinc lead borate (ZLB) glasses. Optical measurements such as absorption, emission spectra, lifetimes, XRD, DSC profiles have been carried out. The emission spectrum of Sm(3+):ZLB has shown the emission transitions of (4)G(5/2)-->(6)H(5/2) (563 nm), (4)G(5/2)-->(6)H(7/2) (598 nm), (4)G(5/2)-->(6)H(9/2) (646 nm), (4)G(5/2)-->(6)H(11/2) (708 nm) with lambda(exc): 401 nm ((6)H(5/2)-->(4)F(7/2)). In the case of the Dy(3+):ZLB glass, emission transitions of (4)F(9/2)-->(6)H(15/2) (485 nm), (4)F(9/2)-->(6)H(13/2) (575 nm) and (4)F(9/2)-->(6)H(11/2) (664 nm) with lambda(exi): 447 nm ((6)H(15/2)-->(4)I(15/2)) have been identified. Energy level schemes relating to the emission mechanisms involved in Sm(3+) and Dy(3+) glasses have been given.     

Novel red-emitting Ba2Tb(BO3)2Cl:Eu phosphor with efficient energy transfer for potential application in white light-emitting diodes

A novel red-emitting Ba(2)Tb(BO(3))(2)Cl:Eu phosphor possessing a broad excitation band in the near-ultraviolet (n-UV) region was synthesized by the solid-state reaction. Versatile Ba(2)Tb(BO(3))(2)Cl compound has a rigid open framework, which can offer two types of sites for various valence's cations to occupy, and the coexistence of Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) and the red-emitting luminescence from Eu(3+) with the aid of efficient energy transfer of Eu(2+)-Eu(3+)(Tb(3+)) and Tb(3+)-Eu(3+) have been investigated. Ba(2)Tb(BO(3))(2)Cl emits green emission with the main peak around 543 nm, which originates from (5)D(4) → (7)F(5) transition of Tb(3+). Ba(2)Tb(BO(3))(2)Cl:Eu shows bright red emission from Eu(3+) with peaks around 594, 612, and 624 nm under n-UV excitation (350-420 nm). The existence of Eu(2+) can be testified by the broad-band excitation spectrum, UV-vis reflectance spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, and Eu L(3)-edge X-ray absorption spectrum. Decay time and time-resolved luminescence measurements indicated that the interesting luminescence behavior should be ascribed to efficient energy transfer of Eu(2+)-Eu(3+)(Tb(3+)) and Tb(3+)-Eu(3+) in Ba(2)Tb(BO(3))(2)Cl:Eu phosphors.     

纳米晶LaAlO3掺Eu3+的复合沉淀法制备及发光性质

以NH₃·H₂O-NH₄HCO₃混合溶液为复合沉淀剂,制备了LaAlO₃:Eu³⁺纳米晶体.通过X射线衍射、扫描电镜和透射电镜对产物进行了表征,用荧光光度计测试了样品的三维荧光光谱、激发光谱和发射光谱.结果表明:前驱沉淀物经800℃焙烧处理2h,制备出球型形貌,颗粒分散性好、尺寸约为40nm的立方相LaAlO₃纳米晶.由三维荧光光谱确定了LaAlO₃:Eu³⁺的最佳监测波长和激发波长,在395nm波长光的激发下观察到纳米LaAlO₃中Eu³⁺的591nm(⁵D₀-⁷F₁)和613nm(⁵D₀-⁷F₂)特征发射谱,磁偶极跃迁⁵D₀-⁷F₁的发射峰强度要比电偶极跃迁⁵D₀-⁷F₂更强,而且这种趋势随着焙烧温度的升高明显增强,说明由该法制备的纳米LaAlO₃中Eu³⁺离子占据的位置具有高的对称性.     

沉淀法合成蓝色长余辉发光材料Sr_2MgSi_2O_7:Eu~(2+),Dy~(3+)

采用沉淀法制备了高亮度的长余辉发光材料Sr_2MgSi_2O_7:Eu~(2+),Dy~(3+).通过XRD、荧光光谱和热释光谱对其进行表征.XRD测试表明所制备的Sr_2MgSi_2O_7:Eu~(2+),Dy~(3+),四方晶.荧光光谱测试表明,λ_(em)=467 nm作为监控波长,在275～450 nm之间有宽的激发光谱,峰值位于399 nm.用λ=399 nm激发样品,其发射光谱为一宽带,峰值位于467 nm.1050℃煅烧前躯体所制备的Sr_2MgSi_2O_7:Eu~(2+),Dy~(3+)发光性能最好.热释光谱峰值位于357 K,适合长余辉现象的产生.对Sr_2MgSi_2O_7:Eu~(2+),Dy~(3+)长余辉发光机理进行了讨论.     

Red to blue tunable upconversion in Tm3+-doped ZrO2 nanocrystals

The effect of dopant concentration on the blue upconversion (UPC) emission of Tm(3+) -doped ZrO(2) nanocrystals under different excitation wavelengths in the red region is reported. The UPC emissions are due to the f-f electronic transitions from excited states (1)G(4) and (1)D(2) of Tm(3+). We observed a chromatic change in the UPC with tuning the excitation wavelength. The UPC emission bands at 475, 488, and 501 nm are observed under excitation at 649 nm, but bands centered at 454 and 460 nm are observed when the excitation wavelength is tuned to 655 nm. The UPC emission could be tuned from 501 to 454 nm ( approximately 47 nm) by changing the excitation wavelength from 649 to 655 nm ( approximately 6 nm). The pump power dependence of the emission bands at 475, 488, and 501 nm were investigated on excitation intensity at 649 nm, and the emission bands at 454 and 460 nm are investigated on excitation intensity at 655 nm, which confirms that all of these UPC emission lines are a two-photon absorption process.     

Solid-state photoluminescence sensitization of Tb3+ by novel Au2Pt2 and Au2Pt4 cyanide clusters

The syntheses are reported for two novel Tb(3+) heterotrimetallic cyanometallates, K(2)[Tb(H(2)O)(4)(Pt(CN)(4))(2)]Au(CN)(2)·2H(2)O (1) and [Tb(C(10)N(2)H(8))(H(2)O)(4)(Pt(CN)(4))(Au(CN)(2))]·1.5C(10)N(2)H(8)·2H(2)O (2) (C(10)N(2)H(8) = 2,2'-bipyridine). Both compounds have been isolated as colorless crystals, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction has been used to investigate their structural features. Crystallographic data (MoKα, λ = 0.71073 ?, T = 290 K): 1, tetragonal, space group P4(2)/nnm, a = 11.9706(2) ?, c = 17.8224(3) ?, V = 2553.85(7) ?(3), Z = 4; 2, triclinic, space group P1, a = 10.0646(2) ?, b = 10.7649(2) ?, c = 17.6655(3) ?, α = 101.410(2)°, β = 92.067(2)°, γ = 91.196(2)°, V = 1874.14(6) ?(3), Z = 2. For the case of 1, the structure contains Au(2)Pt(4) hexameric noble metal clusters, while 2 includes Au(2)Pt(2) tetrameric clusters. The clusters are alike in that they contain Au-Au and Au-Pt, but not Pt-Pt, metallophilic interactions. Also, the discrete clusters are directly coordinated to Tb(3+) and sensitize its emission in both solid-state compounds, 1 and 2. The Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of 1 show broad excitation bands corresponding to donor groups when monitored at the Tb(3+) ion f-f transitions, which is typical of donor/acceptor energy transfer (ET) behavior in the system. The compound also displays a broad emission band at ～445 nm, assignable to a donor metal centered (MC) emission of the Au(2)Pt(4) clusters. The PL properties of 2 show a similar Tb(3+) emission in the visible region and a lack of donor-based emission at room temperature; however, at 77 K a weak, broad emission occurs at 400 nm, indicative of uncoordinated 2,2'-bipyridine, along with strong Tb(3+) transitions. The absolute quantum yield (QY) for the Tb(3+) emission ((5)D(4) → (7)F(J (J = 6-3))) in 1 is 16.3% with a lifetime of 616 μs when excited at 325 nm. In contrast the weak MC emission at 445 nm has a quantum yield of 0.9% with a significantly shorter lifetime of 0.61 μs. For 2 the QY value decreases to 9.3% with a slightly shorter lifetime of 562 μs. The reduced QY in 2 is considered to be a consequence of (1) the slightly increased donor-acceptor excited energy gap relative to the optimal gap suggested for Tb(3+) and (2) Tb(3+) emission quenching via a bpy ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) excited state.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering excitation profiles of Ag-2,2'-bipyridine surface complexes and of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ on Ag colloidal surfaces: manifestations of the charge-transfer resonance contributions to the overall surface enhancement of Raman scattering

Excitation profiles of SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) and/or SERRS (surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering) spectral bands of two forms of a Ag-bpy (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) surface complex and of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ on Ag nanoparticle (hydrosol) surfaces were determined from the spectra excited in the 458-600 nm region and are reported together with the FT-SERS spectra of the Ag-bpy surface complex and FT Raman spectra of [Ru(bpy)3] Cl2. Seven of the observed 11 fundamentals as well as their first overtones and combination bands are selectively enhanced in SERS of the Ag-bpy surface complex formed in the Ag colloid/HCl/bpy system. The profiles of these bands show a common maximum at approximately 540 nm. The selectively enhanced bands of the Ag-bpy surface complex have nearly the same wavenumbers as those enhanced in the SERRS and resonance Raman spectra of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ upon excitation close to the 453 nm maximum of its MLCT absorption band. Moreover, the intensity patterns of the bpy vibrations of the two species match both in resonance (541 nm excitation for Ag-bpy, 458 nm for [Ru(bpy)3]2+) and in off-resonance (458 and 1064 nm for Ag-bpy, 1064 nm for [Ru(bpy)3]2+). The distinct band shapes of the excitation profiles of the selectively enhanced vibrational modes of the Ag-bpy surface complex, as well as the observation of overtones and combination bands in the SERS spectra upon excitation into this "band", are interpreted in terms of a charge-transfer resonance contribution to the overall SERS enhancement. In view of the near-coincidence of the vibrational modes coupled to the resonant electronic transition of Ag-bpy with those coupled to the MLCT transition of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, the resonant electronic transition is tentatively assigned to a Ag metal to bpy (pi*) CT transition.     

REBO3中Ce3+和Bi3+对Sm3+光致发光的影响

在紫外光(UV)激发下,系统地研究了REBO_3(RE=La,Gd,Y)中Sm~(3+),Ce~(3+)和Bi~(3+)的发射光谱、激发光谱及其发光强度与组成、结构的关系.结果表明:Ce~(3+)、Bi~(3+)均可敏化LaBO_3中Sm~(3+)的发光;而在GdBO_3和YBO_3中,只有Bi~(3+)能敏化Sm~(3+)的发光,Ce~(3+)猝灭Sm~(3+)的发光.本文还探讨了三种基质中Sm~(3+)发光浓度猝灭的机理.     

Design of a dual-signaling sensing system for fluorescent ratiometric detection of Al3+ ion based on the inner-filter effect

A dual-signal sensing system based on the inner-filter effect (IFE) was demonstrated, in which the combination of two signaling mechanisms allows metal binding to turn on two fluorescence emission bands, independently. A proof-of-concept fluorescent ratiometric assay for Al(3+) in pure aqueous solution is presented. The proposed assay is based on the Al(3+)-induced color and fluorescence changes of Alizarin red S (ARS) and IFE between ARS and meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine tetratosylate salt (TMPyP). In the absence of Al(3+), the absorption spectrum of the ARS in 0.2 M HAc-NaAc buffer (pH 5.5) has a strong peak at 420 nm, significantly overlapping with the excitation of TMPyP. ARS is expected to be capable of functioning as a powerful absorber to tune the emission of TMPyP on account of the spectral overlap. Binding of Al(3+) with ARS forms a fluorometric ARS/Al(3+) complex and shifts the maximum absorbance from 420 nm to 480 nm, which overlaps negligibly with the excitation of TMPyP and turns on the proper emission spectrum for TMPyP. Under the optimum conditions, The fluorescence intensity ratio, F(585)/F(651), responds to Al(3+) over a dynamic range of 0.1-1.5 μM, with a limit of detection of 40 nM, where F(585) and F(651) are the fluorescence intensity at 585 nm and 651 nm in the absence or presence of Al(3+), respectively. Further application in Al(3+)-spiked water samples suggested a recovery between 95 and 108%. The fluorescence response is highly selective for Al(3+) over other metal ions with the addition of thiourea as the masking agent.     

Ca(9)Lu(PO(4))(7):Eu(2+),Mn(2+): a potential single-phased white-light-emitting phosphor suitable for white-light-emitting diodes

A novel white-light-emitting phosphor Ca(9)Lu(PO(4))(7):Eu(2+),Mn(2+) has been prepared by solid-state reaction. The photoluminescence properties indicate that there is an efficient energy transfer from the Eu(2+) to Mn(2+) ions via a dipole-quadrupole reaction. The obtained phosphor exhibits a strong excitation band between 250 and 430 nm, matching well with the dominant emission band of a UV light-emitting-diode (LED) chip. Upon excitation of UV light, white light is realized by combining a broad blue-green emission band at 480 nm and a red emission band at 645 nm attributed to the Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) ions. The energy-transfer efficiency and critical distance were also calculated. Furthermore, the phosphors can generate lights from blue-green through white and eventually to red by properly tuning the relative ratio of the Eu(2+) to Mn(2+) ions through the principle of energy transfer. Preliminary studies showed that the phosphor might be promising as a single-phased white-light-emitting phosphor for a UV white-light LED.     

Inter- and intraconfigurational transitions of Nd3+ in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices

Excitation of the 4f3 ion Nd3+ in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices by synchrotron radiation of wavelength approximately 185 nm leads to fast 4f(2)5d --> 4f3 emission below 52,630 cm(-1) and slower 4f3 --> 4f3 emission from the luminescent states (4)F(3/2) gamma8u (11 524 cm(-1)) and 2G2(9/2) gamma8u (approximately 47,500 cm(-1)). The near-infrared emission is well-resolved, and a clear interpretation of the 4I(9/2) crystal field levels and of the one-phonon vibronic sideband is given. The excitation spectrum of the 2G2(9/2) emission enables clarification of the structure of the 4f(2)5d configuration (which extends from approximately 52,000 to 128,000 cm(-1)). Detailed energy level and intensity calculations have been performed, which provide simulations of the d-f emission and the f-d excitation spectra in good agreement with experiment. It is interesting that although the 4f3 2G2(9/2) gamma8u --> 4f3 4I(J) transitions are very weak in intensity compared with transitions terminating upon higher multiplet terms, most of the 4f(2)5d (3H) 4I(9/2) gamma8g --> 4f3 emission intensity resides in the transitions to 4I(J).     

Porous YAG:Nd3+ fibers with excitation and emission in the human "NIR optical window" as luminescent drug carriers

The design and preparation of luminescent drug carriers has been a prosperous area of research for many years. However, the excitation and/or emission wavelength of such luminescent drug carriers haven't been optimized in the so-called human "near infrared (NIR) optical window", thus restricting their practical applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of electrospun porous YAG:Nd(3+) (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) fibers with both excitation and emission in the "NIR optical window" as luminescent drug carriers. The YAG:Nd(3+) porous fibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX), and photoluminescence (PL). Ibuprofen (IBU) was used as a model drug to evaluate the drug-loading capacities and release profiles of the samples. BMSCs (bone mesenchymal stem cells) were used as model human cells to investigate cytotoxicity. Our results indicated that the YAG:Nd(3+) fibers possessed a fine, irregularly porous fibrous morphology with an average diameter of 378 nm. The florescence of the sample (1064 nm) could be excited over a wide wavelength range in the NIR region. During the release process of IBU in simulated body fluid (SBF), along with the dissolving of the drug, the solvent entered into the pores, and the emission intensity of the YAG:Nd(3+) fibers at 1064 nm decreased gradually, owing to a quenching effect of the hydroxy groups, thus provided an approach to track and monitor drug release. In addition, cytotoxicity investigations revealed that these YAG:Nd(3+) fibers were biocompatible with human cells. Consequently, the porous YAG:Nd(3+) fibers are a promising material for applications as advanced drug carriers.     

Core-shell structured SiO2@YVO4:Dy3+/Sm3+ phosphor particles: sol-gel preparation and characterization

Spherical SiO(2) particles have been coated with YVO(4):Dy(3+)/Sm(3+) phosphor layers by a Pechini sol-gel process, leading to the formation of core-shell structured SiO(2)@YVO(4):Dy(3+)/Sm(3+) particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting SiO(2)@YVO(4):Dy(3+)/Sm(3+) core-shell phosphors. The obtained core-shell phosphors have perfect spherical shape with narrow size distribution (average size ca. 300 nm), smooth surface and non-agglomeration. The thickness of shells could be easily controlled by changing the number of deposition cycles (20 nm for one deposition cycle). The core-shell particles show strong characteristic emission from Dy(3+) for SiO(2)@YVO(4):Dy(3+) and from Sm(3+) for SiO(2)@YVO(4):Sm(3+) due to an efficient energy transfer from YVO(4) host to them. The PL intensity of Dy(3+) and Sm(3+) increases with raising the annealing temperature and the number of coating cycles.