Preparation and Luminescence Properties of YVO4:Ln and Y(V, P)O-4:Ln (Ln = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) Nanofibers and Microbelts by Sol-Gel/Electrospinning Process

One-dimensional YVO4:Ln and Y(V, P)O-4:Ln nanofibers and quasi-one-dimensional YVO4:Ln microbelts (Ln = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), low-voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), and time-resolved emission spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting samples.

Bluish-white emission from radical carbonyl impurities in amorphous Al2O3 prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process

Many efforts have been devoted to exploring novel luminescent materials that do not contain expensive or toxic elements, or do not need mercury vapor plasma as the excitation source. In this paper, amorphous Al2O3 powder samples were prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra, kinetic decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

Synthesis and luminescent properties of Lu3Ga5O12 : RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Pr) nanocrystalline phosphors via sol-gel process

Lu3Ga5O12:Eu3+, Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+, and Lu3Ga5O12:Pr3+ phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. The XRD results reveal that the sample begins to crystallize at 800 degrees C and fully crystallined pure Lu3Ga5O12 phase can be obtained at 1000 degrees C. The FESEM image indicates that the phosphor sample is composed of aggregated rice grainlike particles with sizes around 80-120 nm.

One-step immobilization of tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) via vapor-surface sol-gel deposition towards solid-state electrochemiluminescence detection

A novel method for immobilization of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2) on electrode surfaces based on the vapor-surface sol-gel deposition strategy is first demonstrated in this paper. Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2 immobilized sol-gel (Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2/sol-gel) films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and field-emitted scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). These results showed that Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2 was successfully incorporated into the silica sol-gel film. it was found that many irregular Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2/sol-gel clusters were formed on surfaces through one deposition and thick sol-gel films were observed after further deposition.

Glucose biosensor based on gold nanoparticle-catalyzed luminol electrochemiluminescence on a three-dimensional sol-gel network

An electrochemiluminescent glucose biosensor was proposed based on gold nanoparticle-catalyzed luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Gold nanoparticles were self-assembled onto silica sol-gel network, and then glucose oxidase was adsorbed on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The surface assembly process and the electrochemistry and ECL behaviors of the biosensor were investigated. The assembled gold nanoparticles could efficiently electrocatalyze luminol ECL ECL intensity of the biosensor depended on scan rate, luminol concentration, and size of gold nanoparticles.

Surface modification of bioactive glass nanoparticles and the mechanical and biological properties of poly(L-lactide) composites

Novel bioactive glass (13G) nanoparticles/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) composites were prepared as promising bone-repairing materials. The BG nanoparticles (Si:P:Ca = 29:13:58 weight ratio) of about 40 run diameter were prepared via the sol-gel method. In order to improve the phase compatibility between the polymer and the inorganic phase, PLLA (M-n = 9700 Da) was linked to the surface of the BG particles by diisocyanate. The grafting ratio of PLLA was in the vicinity of 20 wt.%. The grafting modification could improve the tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact energy of the composites by increasing the phase compatibility.

Improved Melting Strength of Polypropylene by Reactive Compounding With Ultrafine Full-Vulcanized Polybutadiene Rubber (UFBR) Particles

Ultrafine full-vulcanized polybutadiene rubber (UFBR) in particle sizes of ca. 50-100 nm has been used for modifying mechanical and processing performances of polypropylene (PP), and PP-g-maleic anhydride (PP-MA) has been used as a compatibilizer for enhancing the interfacial adhesion between the two components. The results show that PP/UFBR possesses rheological behaviors such as highly branched PP when UFBR content in blends reaches 10 wt%, while in contrast, the much low content of UFBR combining small amount of PP-MA endows the material with rheological characteristics of high melt strength materials like highly branched PP.

Novel Method for Preparation of Polypropylene Blends with High Melt Strength by Reactive Compounding

Ultrafine full-vulcanized polybutadiene rubber(UFBR) with particle sizes of ca. 50-100 nm were used for modifying mechanical and processing performances of polypropylene(PP) with PP-g-maleic anhydride(PP-g-MA) as a compatibilizer for enhancing the interfacial adhesion between the two components. The morphology, dynamical rheology response and mechanical properties of the blends were characterized by means of SEM, rheometer and tensile test, respectively.

Adhesive strength of new thermal barrier coatings of rare earth zirconates

La2Zr2O7 (LZ) and La-2(Zr0.7Ce0.3)(2)O-7 (LZ7C3) as novel candidate materials for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were prepared by electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). The adhesive strength of the as-deposited LZ and LZ7C3 coatings were evaluated by transverse scratch test. Meanwhile, the factors affecting the critical load value were also investigated. The critical load value of LZ7C3 coating is larger than that of LZ coating, whereas both values of these two coatings are lower than that of the traditional coating material, i.e. 8 wt% yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ). The micro-cracks formed in the scratch channel can partially release the stress in the coating and then enhance the adhesive strength of the coating. The width of the scratch channel and the surface spallation after transverse scratch test are effective factors to evaluate the adhesive strength of LZ and LZ7C3 coatings.

Electrochemiluminescence detection of NADH and ethanol based on partial sulfonation of sol-gel network with gold nanoparticles

We developed a stable, sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on the synthesis of a new sol-gel material with the ion-exchange capacity sol-gel to coimmobilize the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and enzyme. The partial sulfonated (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane sol-gel (PSSG) film acted as both an ion exchanger for the immobilization of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and a matrix to immobilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs/PSSG/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) film modified electrode allowed sensitive the ECL detection of NADH as low as 1 nM. Such an ability of AuNPs/PSSG/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) film to promote the electron transfer between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and the electrode suggested a new, promising biocompatible platform for the development of dehydrogenase-based ECL biosensors. With alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as a model, we then constructed an ethanol biosensor, which had a linear range of 5 mu M to 5.2 mM with a detection limit of 12 nM.

Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of LaAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Tm, Tb) Nanocrystalline Phosphors via a Sol-Gel Process

LaAlO3:Tm3+ and LaAlO3:Tb3+ phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. The XRD results reveal that the fully crystalline pure LaAlO3 Phase can be obtained at 800 degrees C. The FE-SEM image indicates that the phosphor samples are composed of aggregated spherical particles with sizes ranging from 40 to 80 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light (230 nm) and low-voltage electron beams (1-3 kV), the LaAlO3:Tm3+ and LaAlO3:Tb3+ phosphors show the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ (D-1(2)-> H-3(6,4),F-3(4) transitions) and Tm3+ (D-5(3,4)-> F-7(6,5,4,3) transitions) respectively. The CL of the LaAlO3:Tm3+ phosphors have high color purity and comparable intensity to the Y2SiO5:Ce3+ commercial product, and the CL colors of Tb3+-doped LaAlO3 phosphors can be tuned from blue to green by changing the doping concentration of Tb3+ to some extent.

Tunable Multiresponsive Methacrylic Acid Based Inverse Opal Hydrogels Prepared by Controlling the Synthesis Conditions

Methacrylic acid based inverse opal hydrogels (MIOHs) have been prepared by controlling the synthesis conditions, including cross-linker content, solvent content, and water content in solvent mixtures to explore the effect of the synthesis conditions (especially solvent content and mixture) on the response performance. Various response events (pH, solvent, ionic strength, 1,4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (PDA) response) have been investigated. For pH, solvent response, the same response behaviors have been observed: both the increased solvent (only ethanol) content and the enhanced water content in solvent will lead to the reduced response level of MIOHs compared to that of the increased cross-linker content. However, two different kinds of response behaviors for ionic strength response have been found by adjusting the synthesis conditions. The kinetics of pH response shows characteristics of a diffusion-limited process, and the equilibrium response time is about 20 min, which cannot be reduced by changing the synthesis conditions.

Sol-gel derived Y2O3 as an efficient bluish-white phosphor without metal activator ions

In this paper, Y2O3 powder phosphors without metal activators were successfully prepared by the sol-gel method. The obtained sample shows an intense bluish-white emission (ranging from 350 to 600 nm, centered at 416 nm) under a wide range of UV light excitation (235-400 nm). The chromaticity coordinates of the sample are x = 0.159, y = 0.097, and the quantum yield is as high as 64.6%, which is a high value among the phosphor family without metal activators. The luminescent mechanisms have been ascribed to the carbon impurities in the Y2O3 host.

Multiform oxide optical materials via the versatile Pechini-type sol-gel process: Synthesis and characteristics

This feature article highlights work from the authors' laboratories on the various kinds of oxide optical materials, mainly luminescence and pigment materials with different forms (powder, core-shell structures, thin film and patterning) prepared by the Pechini-type sol-gel (PSG) process. The PSG process, which uses the common metal salts (nitrates, acetates, chlorides, etc.) as precursors and citric acid (CA) as chelating ligands of metal ions and polyhydroxy alcohol (such as ethylene glycol or poly ethylene glycol) as a cross-linking agent to form a polymeric resin on molecular level, reduces segregation of particular metal ions and ensures compositional homogeneity. This process can overcome most of the difficulties and disadvantages that frequently occur in the alkoxides based sol-gel process.