Enhancement of the emission yield of silicon nanocrystals in silica due to surface passivation

The ability of surface passivation to enhance the photoluminescence (PL) emission of Si nanocrystals in SiO₂ has been investigated. Silicon precipitation in implanted samples takes place in a time scale of few minutes at 1100°C. For longer annealing at the same temperature, the PL intensity of the Si nanocrystals increases and eventually reaches saturation, while it correlates inversely with the amount of Si dangling bonds at the Si–SiO₂ interface (P_b centers), as measured by electron spin resonance. This combined behavior is independent on the silica matrix properties, implantation profiles and annealing atmosphere and duration. The observation that the light emission enhancement is directly related to the annealing of P_b centers is confirmed by treatment in forming gas. This mild hydrogenation at much lower temperature (450°C) leads to a complete passivation of the P_b defects, increasing at the same time the PL yield and the lifetime.     

Hydroxyapatite gels and nanocrystals prepared through a sol-gel process

We have investigated the effect of the Ca/P molar ratio on the structural and morphological properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) gels and nanocrystals. The sol-gel process was carried out in aqueous, and alternatively in alcoholic medium (50% water-50% ethanol), at 37°C. Gel samples were obtained by drying the sols at 37°C or at 80°C, whereas powder samples were obtained by filtering the sols. Heat treatment at temperatures as low as 300°C is enough to obtain pure HA from the gels with a Ca/P molar ratio of 1.00 and 1.67. At variance, heat treatment of the gels with a Ca/P of 2.55 always produces secondary phases. The degree of crystallinity of HA increases with the Ca/P molar ratio of the sols, and it is slightly affected by the presence of ethanol in the precipitation medium. Filtering of the sols provides powders constituted of nanocrystalline HA that exhibit degree of crystallinity, crystal morphology and thermal stability closely related to the sols composition.     

Visible and near-IR luminescence via energy transfer in rare earth doped mesoporous titania thin films with nanocrystalline walls

Selected photoluminescence in the wavelength range of 600-1540 nm is generated by energy transfer from a light-gathering mesostructured host lattice to an appropriate rare earth ion. The mesoporous titania thin films, which have a well-ordered pore structure and two-phase walls made of amorphous titania and TiO₂ nanocrystallites, were doped with up to 8 mol% lanthanide ions, and the ordered structure of the material was preserved. Exciting the titania in its band gap results in energy transfer and it is possible to observe photoluminescence from the crystal field states of the rare earth ions. This process is successful for certain rare earth ions (Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Yb³⁺, Nd³⁺, Er³⁺) and not for others (Tb³⁺, Tm³⁺). A mechanism has been proposed to explain this phenomenon, which involves energy transfer through surface states on titania nanocrystals to matching electronic states on the rare earth ions.     

H and H NMR studies of cyclohexane nanocrystals in controlled pore glasses

The formation and behaviour of cyclohexane and cyclohexane-d₁₂ nanocrystals in mesoporous solids of well-defined dimensional constraints are studied by ¹H and ²H NMR. The NMR line widths, spin–spin relaxation times (T₂), spin–lattice relaxation times (T₁) and diffusivities (D) were measured as a function of temperature, and the results are discussed with reference to the values obtained for the bulk materials. The confined solids exhibit substantial changes in the phase behaviour and molecular dynamics. Thus, the line-shape measurements reveal a two-phase system consisting of a highly mobile component at the surface of the pore and a plastically crystalline phase in the centre of the pore. The liquid-like surface layer in the mesopores is observable well below the reduced transition temperature of the confined cyclohexane. However, the T₂ and diffusion measurements show that the mobile phase also embraces a minor component attributed to non-frozen liquid in pockets or offshoots.     

Defect-effects on the photoluminescence of ZrO2 bulk,film and nanocrystals

The photoluminescence (PL) properties of ZrO₂ have been measured at different temperatures between 7 and 300 K, using various kinds of ZrO₂ specimens: bulk crystal melt-grown by a large solar furnace, thermally oxidized zirconium plate (ZrO₂ film crystal on Zr ) and nanocrystals (surface area: 35–45m²/g, diameter: 20–30 nm). The results clarify the deep and shallow energy level structures in the energy gap. Reversible UV-laser-light-induced spectral changes are observed for all of the specimens in different specimen-atmospheres (vacuum and O₂ gas). The results elucidate the defect-effects of the PL properties and the PL enhancement mechanism in ZrO₂ nanocrystals.     

Two- and three-dimensional restricted geometry case of luminescence quenching

We present general analytical expression for two and three-dimensional cases of static energy transfer kinetics in doped nanoparticles (of round, spherical and cylindrical shape). A series of numerical experiments has been performed using Monte-Carlo simulation. The analytical expressions have shown very good coincidence with the computer simulation.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of CuO Nanocrystals

CuO feather‐like and flower‐like crystals have been synthesized by a fast microwave‐assisted solution approach using Cu(NO₃)₂ and NaOH. The morphology transformation of CuO could be achieved by ionic liquid 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF₄). With [BMIM]BF₄, flower‐like CuO were obtained, whereas without [BMIM]BF₄, feather‐like CuO were obtained. The possible formation mechanism of flower‐like CuO was discussed on the basis of experimental results. The products were characterized by XRD, FESEM/EDS, and TEM/SAED. In addition, the adsorption of [BMIM]BF₄ on flower‐like CuO was confirmed by FTIR and TG/DSC, and the band gap energies of the flower‐like CuO was estimated by UV‐vis spectra.     

Detection of bleomycin based on N and S co-doped graphene quantum dots as a fluorescence probeEI北大核心CSCD

N and S co-doped graphene quantum dotsNS-GQDswith excellent fluorescence properties were synthesized by hydrothermal method using citrate and thiourea as ingredientsand were characterized. The fluorescence signal was notably reduced in the presence of single stranded DNAssDNAsince ssDNA can adsorb on the surface of NS-GQDs through p-p stacking interaction. Whereas a significantly restored fluorescence signal was observed in the presence of bleomycinowing to the irreversible cleavage of ssDNA by bleomycin with Fe2+ as cofactor. Thusa fluorescence sensor for bleomycin detection was developed. The linear range was from 1.8 to 1200 nmol/L and the detection limit was 0.25 nmol/L. The method was used to detect bleomycin content in human serum samples with satisfactory results. © 2022, Youke Publishing Co.,Ltd. All rights reserved.     

尿液中的纳米微晶及其与尿石形成的关系

尿石症是一种世界范围的常见病和多发病,其主要的矿物成分为草酸钙(CaOxa)等[1-2]。但至今为止,尿石症形成过程中的许多化学及物理问题尚不清楚:尿液中的微晶是怎样生长和聚集?随后又是怎样黏附到尿路细胞膜上而形成结石?正常人与尿石患者尿液中微晶的数量和尺寸等存在什么样的     

温度对CdS纳米颗粒形状和光致发光特性的影响

采用反胶束法,在常温和低温下(接近零度)合成了硅土包裹的CdS纳米颗粒.高分辨电镜表明常温下合成的颗粒呈现直径小于5 nm的球形,而在低温下出现了短棒形和长达微米量级的线形.通过对实验过程的分析表明:不仅合成CdS纳米颗粒溶液的浓度,而且温度对CdS纳米颗粒的形状产生了重要的影响.进一步研究了CdS纳米颗粒的光致发光特性.