A mechanism of energy transfer in binuclear fluoride lanthanide complexes in aqueous electrolyte solutions

The energy transfer between different pairs of lanthanide ions bonded by fluoride bridges into labile binuclear complexes is studied in aqueous solution at different ratios between the concentrations of lanthanide ions and fluoride anions ([Ln]: [F]). It is shown that, if the concentrations [Ln] and [F] are of the same order of magnitude, the energy transfer rate constant k _t does not depend on the choice of the pairs of interacting ions and is determined by the association rate constant of Ln(III) ions into binuclear complexes. If the concentration of the lanthanide ions is much greater than that of the fluoride ions, k _t varies proportionally to the monomolecular energy transfer rate constants in the binuclear complexes. It is assumed that, in the first case, Ln(III) ions are bonded through two fluoride anions, whereas, in the second case, they are bonded through one anion. The analysis of the variations in k _t in the latter systems shows that the exchange-resonance mechanism should be taken into account for the explanation of the experimental data. The effects that the introduction into the solution of different contents of salts of strong acids—AlCl₃, MgCl₂, Ca(NO₃)₂, CsCl, RbBr, and NaCl—have on k _t and on the regularities of the energy transfer between Ln(III) ions bonded into binuclear fluoride complexes are studied. The effects of these electrolytes on the luminescence intensity and spectrum of Eu(III) ions and on the values of k _t for the energy transfer between Ln(III) ions bonded into binuclear complexes are analyzed. It is shown that, at some concentration ratio [Ln]: [F], for all electrolytes studied except AlCl₃, the value of k _t increases despite the fact that the concentration of mononuclear complexes of Ln(III) ions with fluorine decreases in the presence of these electrolytes. It is ascertained that the anions of strong acids in the outer sphere of lanthanide ions increase the association constant of Ln(III) ions in binuclear fluoride complexes.     

Deactivation pathways of the electronic excitation of ions of lanthanide complexes in polymers with functional groups

Complexes Eu(TTA)₃phen and Eu(MBTA)₃phen, as well as complexes Tb(MBTA)₃phen and Tb(TTA)₃phen, which do not luminesce in solutions, are shown to luminesce in polymer films (TTA is thenoyltrifluoroacetone, MBTA is n-methoxybenzoyltrifluoroacetone, and phen is o-phenanthroline). Luminescence of complexes of Eu and Tb in films of a polymer, poly(methylene-bis-anthranilamide) 1,6-hexamethylenedicarboxylic acid (PAA-5), having a high concentration of functional anthranilate groups, is studied. From the behavior of the luminescence intensity (I _lum), the luminescence decay time, and the luminescence spectra of complexes of these lanthanides in polymer films, the following regular features were revealed. (i) During the film preparation at 90°C, Ln complexes are attached to PAA-5 via anthranilate groups. (ii) Irradiation of these films in the range of the absorption band of ligands (TTA or MBTA) leads to deactivation of the electronic excitation of ions according to the diketone detachment mechanism and to further binding of complexes to polymers. In this case, I _lum(Eu(III)) decreases because the introduction of anthranilate groups of the polymer into the first coordination sphere of Eu(III) complexes enhances the nonradiative deactivation of these ions, whereas I _lum(Tb(III)) increases since the introduction of these groups suppresses the nonradiative deactivation of Tb complexes through triplet states of ligands (TTA and MBTA). (iii) Upon storage of films in the dark (20°C), complexes detach themselves from the polymer and return to their initial structure. In PAA-5 films into which Eu and Tb complexes were simultaneously introduced, the color of the emission from the irradiation spot changes from red to green.     

Large transverse momenta in the stratospheric STRANA superfamily

A unique γ-hadron cosmic-ray superfamily with E ₀ > 10¹⁶ eV has been detected in the stratosphere. This is the only analyzed event with such a high energy, unattainable for accelerators. This event exhibits alignment of the most energetic particles and very large transverse momenta (>2.5 GeV/c).     

Resonant Raman scattering of ZnS,ZnO, and ZnS/ZnO core/shell quantum dots

Resonant Raman scattering by optical phonon modes as well as their overtones was investigated in ZnS and ZnO quantum dots grown by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The in situ formation of ZnS/ZnO core/shell quantum dots was monitored by Raman spectroscopy during laser illumination.     

Nonradiative exciton transfer by the Förster mechanism from InAs/AlAs quantum dots to dye molecules in hybrid structures

Förster resonance transfer of excitons from self-assembled InAs/AlAs quantum dots to cyanine dye molecules deposited on the structure surface is investigated. It is shown that the efficiency of the exciton transfer changes upon the interaction of cyanine dye molecules with chloroform due to a change in the molecule dipole moment.