Spectroscopic properties of Nd ions in nano-perovskite CaTiO3

In this work, we present for the first time the spectroscopic properties of perovskite nanocrystals CaTiO₃: Nd³⁺, measured at room and liquid nitrogen temperature. Samples were prepared by the sol–gel method and annealed at 700 and 1000 °C. The concentration of Nd³⁺ ranged from 0.5% to 5%. Average nanocrystallite size primarily depends on the annealed temperature and is about 25 and 50 nm for 700 and 1000 °C, respectively. The absorption, emission and excitation spectra (monitored at 1078 nm) as well as the decay time profile of the emission from the ⁴F_3/2 energy level of Nd³⁺ are obtained. The increasing amount of Nd³⁺ ions decreases the lifetime of the ⁴F_3/2 level and that changes from 146 μs for 0.5% to 50 μs for 5% of Nd³⁺ concentration. The strongest emission was observed at two regions: 1050–1120 nm and 865–930 nm and was assigned to the ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_11/2 and ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 transitions, respectively. The spectroscopic quality parameter of neodymium in the CaTiO₃ lattice has been calculated from the emission spectra. The influence of luminescent properties depending on the annealing temperature and concentration of neodymium ions is discussed.     

Mixed‐Halide CH3NH3PbI3−xXx (X=Cl,Br, I) Perovskites: Vapor‐Assisted Solution Deposition and Application as Solar Cell Absorbers

There have been recent reports on the formation of single‐halide perovskites, CH₃NH₃PbX₃ (X=Cl, Br, I), by means of vapor‐assisted solution processing. Herein, the successful formation of mixed‐halide perovskites (CH₃NH₃PbI_3?xX_x) by means of a vapor‐assisted solution method at ambient atmosphere is reported. The perovskite films are synthesized by exposing PbI₂ film to CH₃NH₃X (X=I, Br, or Cl) vapor. The prepared perovskite films have uniform surfaces with good coverage, as confirmed by SEM images. The inclusion of chlorine and bromine into the structure leads to a lower temperature and shorter reaction time for optimum perovskite film formation. In the case of CH₃NH₃PbI_3?xCl_x, the optimum reaction temperature is reduced to 100 °C, and the resulting phases are CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (with trace Cl) and CH₃NH₃PbCl₃ with a ratio of about 2:1. In the case of CH₃NH₃PbI_3?xBr_x, single‐phase CH₃NH₃PbI₂Br is formed in a considerably shorter reaction time than that of CH₃NH₃PbI₃. The mesostructured perovskite solar cells based on CH₃NH₃PbI₃ films show the best optimal power conversion efficiency of 13.5 %, whereas for CH₃NH₃PbI_3?xCl_x and CH₃NH₃PbI_3?xBr_x the best recorded efficiencies are 11.6 and 10.5 %, respectively.     

The first synthesis of a thioglycoside analogue of the immunostimulant KRN7000

The first total synthesis of a thioglycoside analogue of KRN7000, a potential immunostimulant, is described. Two key intermediates are alpha-galactosyl thiol 4 and phytosphingosine derivative 5, which were both prepared from D-galactose.     

Annihilation of the persistent luminescence of MAl2O4:Eu by Sm co-doping

The calcium aluminates doped with the Eu²⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions, CaAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Nd³⁺, are a novel and efficient persistent luminescence (i.e. afterglow) material. The Nd³⁺ ions were found to enhance the persistent luminescence. Some other R³⁺ co-dopants had similar or opposite, though weaker, effect. The Sm³⁺ (and Yb³⁺) ions suppressed almost completely the persistent luminescence and thermoluminescence of the Eu²⁺ ion. From the UV-excited luminescence and persistent luminescence spectra it was found that the Eu²⁺ ion acts as a luminescent centre with luminescence at the blue (λ_max=440 nm) region. The Sm³⁺ ion was reduced to the divalent state. The thermoluminescence glow curves of the CaAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Sm³⁺ material showed that the high-temperature glow peaks, i.e. deep traps, were suppressed almost completely. The Nd:YAG laser-excited high-resolution photoluminescence of the Sm²⁺ ion confirmed that the Eu²⁺ ion occupies only one Ca²⁺ site. Only weak perturbations were observed in the Sm²⁺ site due to the changes in the environment of the Sm²⁺ site.     

Arrays of micro-cavities activated with laser ions

We have combined different rare earth ions (Er³⁺, Nd³⁺ and Yb³⁺) in two dimensional ferroelectric patterns to obtain periodical fluorescent arrays. High refractive-index Er³⁺ doped CaTiO₃ nanocrystals have been embedded into Nd³⁺ or Yb³⁺ doped LiNbO₃ substrates pre-patterned with a two dimensional arrays of micro-voids. The process of incorporation and consolidation of the optically active nanoparticles into the alternate domain structures leads to luminescent ring-shaped arrangements with innovative geometries and to a micrometer spatial control of the trivalent rare earth ion emitters. Multicolor emission systems and the possibility of chromatic switching at the micrometer scale among the different compounds forming the two dimensional structure is demonstrated.     

Glycoside bond formation via acid-base catalysis

Acid-base catalyzed glycosyl donor and then glycosyl acceptor activation with phenylboron difluoride or diphenylboron fluoride permits hydrogen bond mediated intramolecular S(N)2-type glycosidation in generally high anomeric selectivity.     

Synthesis of glycosylthiols and reactivity studies

The acid-catalyzed reaction of 1,2-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranose (7) as glycosyl donor with bis-trimethylsilyl sulfide as acceptor affords the α-thiol. Hence, this sterically hindered S-nucleophile as acceptor should provide with O-glycosyl trichloroacetimidates as glycosyl donors that have nonparticipating groups at C-2, glycosylthiols with the thiol group in axial position. This was confirmed for various donors (4, 16-19) with the exception of the corresponding mannosyl donor (20). However, powerful participating groups at C-2 of the donor (23-28) governed the anomeric selectivity.     

Synthesis of α-glycosyl thiols by stereospecific ring-opening of 1,6-anhydrosugars

Treatment of 1,6-anhydrosugars with commercially available bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfide in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate led to the formation of α-glycosyl thiols. All the reactions were highly stereoselective and afforded the α-glycosyl thiols in good to excellent yields. By this procedure, a variety of 1,6-anhydrosugars, differing in their sugar units, glycosidic linkages, and protecting group pattern, were converted smoothly into the corresponding α-glycosyl thiols, which could be of great utility in thioglycoside chemistry. It is noteworthy that 1,6-anhydrosugars carrying the 2-O-acyl group and 1,6-anhydrosugar-containing oligosaccharides could also be ring-opened stereospecifically under the same conditions to give rise to the corresponding 1-thiosugars in high yields. Thus, a very concise and efficient access to α-glycosyl thiols of great value was established.