Up-conversion properties of lanthanide-organic frameworks and how to track ammunitions using these materials

This manuscript reports the first example of up-conversion properties involving Yb3+ and Tb3+ ions in five isostructural Lanthanide-Organic Frameworks (LnOFs), herein designated as UCMarker-1 to UCMarker-5, respectively, and their application as optical probes for the identification of gunshot residues (GSRs) and the ammunition encryption procedure. The excitation of the Yb3+2 F-7/2 <-> F-2(5/2) transition (980 nm) at room temperature leads to visible up-conversion (UC) emission of Tb3+ D-5(4) -> F-7(J). The GSR and lead-free primer residues are easily identified upon UV radiation (lambda = 254 nm). These results prove that the exploration of LnOFs to identify GSR is attractive for the identification of ammunition origins or caliber recognition.

CNPq (INCT/INAMI, RHINCT/INAMI) [CNPq-550388/2007-9]

CNPq (INCT/INAMI, RHINCT/INAMI)

PRONEX-FACEPECNPq [APQ-0859-1.06/08]

PRONEXFACEPECNPq

FCT

FCT [PTDC/QUI-QUI/098098/2008-FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-010785]

CETENE [D10A-XRD2-10164]

CETENE

LNLS

LNLS [D10A-XRD2-10164]