Photographic sensitivity of silver halide emulsions (on the light-intensity factor determining the mechanism of chemical sensitization)

Some evidence which indicates that the role of chemical sensitization is different for exposures to low and to high intensities have been demonstrated with a model emulsion. This paper presents a review of several published reports and offers some new information. The author concludes that the sensitivity specks on the surface of the grains are responsible for sensitivity at high intensities, whereas the silver-ion gelatin complexes and a small group of silver-atoms surrounded by gelatin attached to the grain surface are responsible for sensitivity at low intensities.     

Theoretical Explanation of the Optical and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectral Data for Trivalent Ytterbium Ions in β-Lead Fluoride

Six crystal-field energy levels and three electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data [g factor and hyperfine structure constants A(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺) and A(¹⁷³Yb³⁺)] for trivalent ytterbium (Yb³⁺) ions in the cubic β-lead fluoride (β-PbF₂) crystal are calculated by using a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the Hamiltonian in the conventional diagonalization method, and so the optical and EPR data can be calculated in a unified way. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values, and the signs of constants A(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺) and A(¹⁷³Yb³⁺) are determined. The results are discussed.     

Blue luminescence in Tm-doped KGd(WO4)2 single crystals

Up-conversion blue emissions of trivalent thulium ions in monoclinic KGd(WO₄)₂ single crystals at 454 and 479 nm are reported for a single pump laser source at 688 nm. We grew thulium-doped KGd(WO₄)₂ single crystals at several concentrations from 0.1% to 10%. We recorded a polarized optical absorption spectrum for the ³F₂+³F₃ energy levels of thulium at room temperature and low temperature (6 K). From the low temperature emission spectra we determined the splitting of the ³H₆ ground state. The blue emissions are characterized as a function of the dopant concentration and temperature from 10 K to room temperature. To our knowledge, this is the first time that sequential two-photon excitation process (STEP) generated blue emissions in thulium-doped single crystals with a single excitation wavelength.     

Characterization of the VUV excitation spectrum of BaZr(BO3)2:Eu

The excitation spectra of M (M=Si⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺) and Eu³⁺ co-doped BaZr(BO₃)₂, BaZrO₃:Eu and La₂Zr₂O₇:Eu in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) regions of 110-300 nm are investigated and the host-lattice absorption are characterized. The result indicated that BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor has a strong absorption under the VUV excitation, and in the host-lattice excitation, the strong band at 130-160 nm could be due to the BO₃ atomic groups; the band at 160-180 nm is related to the excitation of Ba-O; 180-200 nm corresponds to the charge transfer (CT) transition of Zr-O. The band at 200-235 nm due to the CT band of Eu³⁺-O²⁻ and a bond valence study explained the observed weak CT band of Eu³⁺-O²⁻ in the excitation spectra of BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺. The emission results show that Si⁴⁺ can sensitize luminescence in the host of BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu but Ti⁴⁺ has no improvement effect on luminescence.     

Luminescence of Ce and Pr doped Sr2Mg(BO3)2 under VUV-UV and X-ray excitation

This report presents the luminescence properties of Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ activated Sr₂Mg(BO₃)₂ under VUV-UV and X-ray excitation. The five excitation bands of crystal field split 5d states are observed at about 46 729, 44 643, 41 667, 38 314 and 29 762 cm⁻¹ (i.e. 214, 224, 240, 261 and 336 nm) for Ce³⁺ in the host lattice. The doublet Ce³⁺ 5d→4f emission bands were found at about 25 840 and 24 096 cm⁻¹ (387 and 415 nm). The influence of doping concentration and temperature on the emission characteristics and the decay time of Ce³⁺ in Sr₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were investigated. For Pr³⁺ doped samples, the lowest 5d excitation band was observed at about 42017 cm⁻¹ (238 nm), a dominant band at around 35714 cm⁻¹ (280 nm) and two shoulder bands were seen in the emission spectra. The excitation and emission spectra of Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ were compared and discussed. The X-ray excited luminescence studies show that the light yields are ∼3200±230 and ∼1400±100 photons/MeV of absorbed X-ray energy for the samples Sr_1.86Ce_0.07Na_0.07Mg(BO₃)₂ and Sr_1.82Pr_0.09Na_0.09Mg(BO₃)₂ at RT, respectively.     

A novel strong green phosphor： K3Gd（PO4）2：Ce^3＋, Tb^3＋ for a UV-excited white light-emitting-diode

A series of K3Gd1-x-y（PO4）2：xCe^3＋, yTb^3＋ phosphors are synthesized by the solid-sate reaction method. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectra are utilized to characterize the structures and luminescence properties of the as-synthesized phosphors. Co-doping of Ce^3＋ enhances the emission intensity of Tb^3＋ greatly through an efficient energy transfer process from Ce^3＋ to Tb^3＋. The energy transfer is confirmed by photoluminescence spectra and decay time curves analysis. The efficiency and mechanism of energy transfer are investigated carefully. Moreover, due to the non- concentration quenching property of K3Tb（PO4）2, the photoluminescence spectra of K3Tb1-x（PO4）2：xCe^3＋ are studied and the results show that when x = 0.11 the strongest Tb^3＋ green emission can be realized.     

Polarized fluorescence spectra analysis of Yb:KGd(WO4)2

The average fluorescence wavelength of the laser crystal is the most important factor in the radiation-balanced laser (RBL). Polarized fluorescence spectra measurements of the anisotropic laser material ytterbium-doped potassium gadolinium tungstate, Yb³⁺:KGd(WO₄)₂, are carried out along principal refractive index directions m, p, g in three configurations in order to achieve the best design for RBL. The average fluorescence wavelength of g polarization is the shortest, so g should be in the face of fluorescence emission; m polarization should be normal to that face to avoid its strong absorption to fluorescence photons. Fluorescence re-absorption causes the average fluorescence wavelength of the directly measured spectra red-shifted at least 9 nm. Methods for depressing radiation trapping are suggested accordingly, which are high power pumping, low doping concentration, small dimensions and fusing with undoped KGd(WO₄)₂.     

White light generation through the zinc metaphosphate glass activated by Ce, Tb and Mn ions

The photoluminescence of Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions was investigated in the Zn(PO₃)₂ glass. The blue and green emissions of Tb³⁺ ions and the red emission of Mn²⁺ ions are enhanced upon UV excitation through a non-radiative energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions. The efficiency of this transfer was estimated in at least 62%. It is demonstrated that this glass activated with three ions (Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Mn²⁺) can generate white light emission (x=0.420 and y=0.423 chromaticity coordinates and 3440 K colour temperature) under excitation at 254 nm, i.e., using an AlGaN-based LED as excitation source.     

Ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of dendrite-like NaY(MoO4)2:Tb phosphor

Micro-sized NaY(MoO₄)₂:Tb³⁺ phosphors with dendritic morphology was synthesized by a ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the as-prepared product is pure tetragonal phase of NaY(MoO₄)₂. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed that the as-prepared NaY(MoO₄)₂:Tb³⁺ phosphors have dendritic morphology. The photoluminescent (PL) spectra displayed that the as-prepared NaY(MoO₄)₂:Tb³⁺ phosphors show a stronger green emission with main emission wavelength 545 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺ ion, and the optimal Tb³⁺ doping concentration for obtaining maximum emission intensity was confirmed to be 10 mol%. Based on Van Uitert's and Dexter's models the electric dipole–dipole (D–D) interaction was confirmed to be responsible for the concentration quenching of ⁵D₄ fluorescence of Tb³⁺ in the NaY(MoO₄)₂:Tb³⁺ phosphors. The intrinsic radiative transition lifetime of ⁵D₄ level is found to be 0.703 ms.     

Combustion synthesis and luminescence properties of NaY1−xEux(WO4)2 phosphors

The red phosphors NaY_1−xEu_x(WO₄)₂ with different concentrations of Eu³⁺ were synthesized via the combustion synthesis method. As a comparison, NaEu(WO₄)₂ was prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The phase composition and optical properties of as-synthesized samples were studied by X-ray powder diffraction and photoluminescence spectra. The results show that the red light emission intensity of the combustion synthesized samples under 394 nm excitation increases with increase in Eu³⁺ concentrations and calcination temperatures. Without Y ions doping, the emission spectra intensity of the NaEu(WO₄)₂ phosphor prepared by the combustion method fired at 900 °C is higher than that prepared by the solid-state reaction at 1100 °C. NaEu(WO₄)₂ phosphor synthesized by the combustion method at 1100 °C exhibits the strongest red emission under 394 nm excitation and appropriate CIE chromaticity coordinates (x=0.64, y=0.33) close to the NTSC standard value. Thus, its excellent luminescence properties make it a promising phosphor for near UV InGaN chip-based red-emitting LED application.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Eu, Ce and Tb-activated Sr3La2(BO3)4 under UV excitation

The spectroscopic properties in UV-excitable range for the phosphors of Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:RE³⁺ (RE³⁺=Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺) were investigated. The phosphors were synthesized by conventional solid-state reactions. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra and commission international de I'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:RE³⁺ were investigated. The f-d transitions of Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the host lattices are assumed and corroborated. The PL and PL excitation (PLE) spectra indicate that the main emission wavelength of Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:Eu³⁺ is 611 nm, and Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:Ce³⁺ shows dominating emission peak at 425 nm, while Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:Tb³⁺ displays green emission at 487, 542, 582 and 620 nm. These phosphors were prepared by simple solid-state reaction at 1000 °C. There are lower reactive temperature and more convenient than commercial phosphors. The Sr₃La₂(BO₃)₄:Tb³⁺ applied to cold cathode fluorescent lamp was found to emit green light and have a major peak wavelength at around 542 nm. These phosphors may provide a new kind of luminescent materials under ultraviolet excitation.