Photoluminescence characterization of Ce and Dy doped Li2CaGeO4 phosphors

Ce³⁺ and Dy³⁺ activated Li₂CaGeO₄ phosphors were prepared by a solid-state reaction method, and characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction) and photoluminescence techniques. The characteristic emission bands of Dy³⁺ due to ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2 (blue) and ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 (yellow) transitions were detected in the emission spectra of Li₂CaGeO₄:Dy³⁺. Ce³⁺ broad band emission was observed in Li₂CaGeO₄:Ce³⁺ phosphors at 372 and 400 nm due to 5d→4f transition when excited at 353 nm. Co-doping of Ce³⁺ enhanced the luminescence of Dy³⁺ significantly and concentration quenching occurs when Dy³⁺ is beyond 0.04 mol%. White-light with different hues can be realized by tuning Dy³⁺ concentration in the phosphors.     

Optical properties of (ZnO)0.5(P2O5)0.5 glasses doped with Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles and Eu2O3

Binary (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glasses doped with Eu₂O₃ and nanoparticles of Gd₂O₃:Eu were prepared by conventional melt-quench method and their luminescence properties were compared. Undoped (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass is characterized by a luminescent defect centre (similar to L-centre present in Na₂O-SiO₂ glasses) with emission around 324 nm and having an excited state lifetime of 18 ns. Such defect centres can transfer the energy to Eu³⁺ ions leading to improved Eu³⁺ luminescence from such glasses. Based on the decay curves corresponding to the ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺ ions in both Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles incorporated as well as Eu₂O₃ incorporated glasses, a significant clustering of Eu³⁺ ions taking place with the latter sample is confirmed. From the lifetime studies of the excited state of L-centre emission from (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass doped with Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles, it is established that there exists weak energy transfer from L-centres to Eu³⁺ ions. Poor energy transfer from the defect centres to Eu³⁺ ions in Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles doped (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass has been attributed to effective shielding of Eu³⁺ ions from the luminescence centre by Gd-O-P type of linkages, leading to an increased distance between luminescent centre and Eu³⁺ ions.     

Role of methylene spacer in the excitation energy transfer in europium 1- and 2- naphthylcarboxylates

A series of compounds Ln(RCOO)₃·Phen (Ln=Eu, Gd, Tb; RCOO⁻-1- and 2-naphthoate, 1- and 2-naphthylacetate, 1- and 2-naphthoxyacetate anions, Phen-1,10-phenanthroline) was investigated by methods of optical spectroscopy. Compounds of composition Ln(RCOO)₃·nH₂O with the same carboxylate ligands are also considered. Results of studies of the effects of methylene spacer decoupling the π-π- or p-π-conjugation in the naphthylcarboxylate ligand on the structure of Eu³⁺ coordination centre, on the lifetime of ⁵D₀ (Eu³⁺) state, and on processes of the excitation energy transfer to Eu³⁺ or Tb³⁺ ions are presented. Introduction of the methylene bridge in the ligand weakens the influence of the steric hindrances in forming of a crystal lattice and results in lowering the distortion of the Eu³⁺ luminescence centre, and in elongation of the observed ⁵D₀ lifetime τ_obs. The latter is caused by decrease in contribution of the radiative processes rate 1/τ_r. This is confirmed by the correlation between the lifetimes τ_obs and the quantities “τ_r·const” inversely proportional to the total integral intensities of Eu(RCOO)₃·Phen luminescence spectra. The methylene spacer performs a role of regulator of sensitization of the Ln³⁺ luminescence efficiency by means of an influence on mutual location of lowest triplet states of the ligands, the ligand-metal charge transfer (LMCT) states, and the emitting states of Ln³⁺ ions. The lowest triplet state in lanthanide naphthylcarboxylate adducts with Phen is related to carboxylate anion. A presence of the methylene spacer in naphthylcarboxylate ligand increases the triplet state energy. At the same time, the energy of “carboxylic group-Eu³⁺ ion” charge transfer states falls, which can promote the degradation of excitation energy. In naphthylcarboxylates investigated a range of the carboxylate triplet state energies from 19 150 to 20 600 cm⁻¹ was demonstrated in dependence on the type of the carboxylate anion. The interligand energy transfer from Phen to carboxylate lowest triplet state was revealed in complexes with Phen ligand. The effect of OH-group inserted in 1- or 3-position of 2-naphthoate ligand on the excitation energy transfer is also analyzed.     

Energy transfers between Sm and Eu in YPO4, LaP5O14 and LaP3O9 phosphates. Potential quantum cutters for red emitting phosphors

This work concerns the studies of energy transfers between Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in some phosphates as new luminescent materials emitting in the orange-red color. The choose of ions is based on the possibility of quantum cutting process and the matrices are selected according to the 5d bands position of Sm³⁺ ion. The Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ doped YPO₄, LaP₅O₁₄ and LaP₃O₉ are synthesized and spectroscopic studies in ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet ranges have been achieved.     

Modification of three dimensional topography of the machined KDP crystal surface using wavelet analysis method

The wavelet analysis method has been extensively employed to analyze the surface structures and evaluate the surface roughness. In this work, however, the wavelet analysis method was introduced to decompose and reconstruct the sampled surface profile signals in the cutting direction that achieved by SPDT (single point diamond turning) operation, and the surface profile signals in tool feeding direction were reconstructed with the approximate harmonic functions directly. And moreover, the orthogonal design method, i.e. the combination design of general rotary method, was resorted to model the variations of the independent frequency and amplitude of different simulated harmonic signals in the cutting and tool feeding directions. As expected resultantly, a novel 3D surface topography modeling solution was established, which aims to predict and modify the finished KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate or KH₂PO₄) crystal surfaces. The validation tests were carried out finally under different cutting conditions, and the collected average surface roughness in any case was compared with the corresponding value as predicted. The results indicated the experimental data were well consistent with the predictions, and only an average relative error of 11.4% occurred in predicting the average surface roughness.     

Multilayer growth of BaTiO3 thin films via pulsed laser deposition: An energy-dependent kinetic Monte Carlo simulation

An energy-dependent kinetic Monte Carlo approach was proposed to simulate the multilayer growth of BaTiO₃ thin films via pulsed laser deposition, in which the four steps, such as the deposition of atoms, the diffusion of adatoms, the bonding of adatoms, and the surface migration of adatoms, were considered. Distinguishing with the traditional solid-on-solid (SOS) model, the adatom bonding and the overhanging of atoms, according to the perovskite structure, were specially adopted to describe the ferroelectric thin film growth. The activation energy was considered from the interactions between the ions, which were calculated by Born-Mayer-Huggins (BMH) potential. From the simulation the relative curves of the each layer coverage and roughness vs total coverage were obtained by varying the parameter values of the incident kinetic energy, laser repetition rate and mean deposition rate. The relationship between growth modes and the different parameters was also acquired.     

3′-Hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone as a potential antibacterial coating on polymeric biomaterials

Antimicrobial property of chalcone coated high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyurethane (PU) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is reported here. The presence of chalcone on the surface was confirmed from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Bacterial adhesion decreased considerably on all the coated surfaces. Bacterial adhesion was highest on PU surface (most hydrophobic) and lowest on HDPE (most hydrophilic) surface. Chalcone seems to damage the membrane of the bacteria as well as exhibit slimicidal activity. Reasonably good correlation was observed between the CFU (Colony Forming Units) ratio (it is defined as the ratio of CFU on coated surface to the chalcone uncoated surface) at the 24th hour against both hydrophobicity of the microorganism and roughness of the coated polymeric surfaces. Increasing roughness of the polymer and hydrophobicity of the microorganisms were positively and negatively correlated respectively with CFU ratio. Hence, the chalcone coated polymers can be used in the development of newer biomaterials.     

Chemical quenching of positronium in Fe2O3/Al2O3 catalysts

Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by solid state reaction method using α-Fe₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ nano powders. The microstructure and surface properties of the catalyst were studied using positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening annihilation radiation measurements. The positron lifetime spectrum shows four components. The two long lifetimes τ₃ and τ₄ are attributed to positronium annihilation in two types of pores distributed inside Al₂O₃ grain and between the grains, respectively. With increasing Fe₂O₃ content from 3 wt% to 40 wt%, the lifetime τ₃ keeps nearly unchanged, while the longest lifetime τ₄ shows decrease from 96 ns to 64 ns. Its intensity decreases drastically from 24% to less than 8%. The Doppler broadening S parameter shows also a continuous decrease. Further analysis of the Doppler broadening spectra reveals a decrease in the p-Ps intensity with increasing Fe₂O₃ content, which rules out the possibility of spin-conversion of positronium. Therefore the decrease of τ₄ is most probably due to the chemical quenching reaction of positronium with Fe ions on the surface of the large pores.     

Influence of deposition temperature on the structural and morphological properties of Be3N2 thin films grown by reactive laser ablation

Be₃N₂ thin films have been grown on Si(1 1 1) substrates using the pulsed laser deposition method at different substrate temperatures: room temperature (RT), 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C. Additionally, two samples were deposited at RT and were annealed after deposition in situ at 600 °C and 700 °C. In order to obtain the stoichiometry of the samples, they have been characterized in situ by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS). The influence of the substrate temperature on the morphological and structural properties of the films was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that all prepared films presented the Be₃N₂ stoichiometry. Formation of whiskers with diameters of 100-200 nm appears at the surface of the films prepared with a substrate temperature of 600 °C or 700 °C. However, the samples grown at RT and annealed at 600 °C or 700 °C do not show whiskers on the surface. The average root mean square (RMS) roughness and the average grain size of the samples grown with respect the substrate temperature is presented. The films grown with a substrate temperature between the room temperature to 400 °C, and the sample annealed in situ at 600 °C were amorphous; while the αBe₃N₂ phase was presented on the samples with a substrate temperature of 600 °C, 700 °C and that deposited with the substrate at RT and annealed in situ at 700 °C.     

Crystallization of 21.25Gd2O3-63.75MoO3-15B2O3 glass induced by femtosecond laser at the repetition rate of 250 kHz

We report the formation of β′-Gd₂(MoO₄)₃ (GMO) crystal on the surface of the 21.25Gd₂O₃-63.75MoO₃-15B₂O₃ glass, induced by 250 kHz, 800 nm femtosecond laser irradiation. The morphology of the modified region in the glass was clearly examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By micro-Raman spectra, the laser-induced crystals were confirmed to be GMO phases and it is found that these crystals have a strong dependence on the number and power of the femtosecond laser pulses. When the irradiation laser power was 900 mW, not only the Raman peaks of GMO crystals but also some new peaks at 214 cm⁻¹, 240 cm⁻¹, 466 cm⁻¹, 664 cm⁻¹ and 994 cm⁻¹which belong to the MoO₃ crystals were observed. The possible mechanisms are proposed to explain these phenomena.