Room-temperature synthesis and luminescence properties of Eu3+/Tb3+-doped La(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)(6)

The facile, rapid, and effective synthesis of coordination polymer La(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)(6) has been realized via direct precipitation at room temperature. It is found that the crystal structure is of monoclinic, space group Cc. The doped Eu3+ or Tb3+ ions samples have the same phase and exhibit red and green emissions under UV light excitation, respectively.

Novel Near-Infrared Luminescent Hybrid Materials Covalently Linking with Lanthanide [Nd(III), Er(III), Yb(III), and Sm(III)] Complexes via a Primary beta-Diketone Ligand: Synthesis and Photophysical Studies

A series of novel, colorless, and transparent sot-gel derived hybrid materials Ln-DBM-Si covalently grafted with Ln(DBM-OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O (where DBM-OH = o-hydroxydibenzoylmethane, Ln = Nd, Er, Yb, and Sin) were prepared through the primary beta-diketone ligand DBM-OH. The structures and optical properties of Ln-DBM-Si were studied in detail. The investigation results revealed that the lanthanide complexes were successfully in situ grafted into the corresponding hybrids Ln-DBM-Si. Upon excitation at the maximum absorption of ligands, the resultant materials displayed excellent near-infrared luminescence.

Covalent functionalization of chemically converted graphene sheets via silane and its reinforcement

Polydisperse, functionalized, chemically converted graphene (f-CCG) nanosheets, which can be homogeneously distributed into water, ethanol, DMF, DMSO and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), were obtained via facile covalent functionalization with APTS. The resulting f-CCG nanosheets were characterized by FTIR, XPS, TGA, EDX, AFM, SEM, and TEM. Furthermore, the f-CCG nanosheets as reinforcing components were extended into silica monoliths. Compressive tests revealed that the compressive failure strength and the toughness of f-CCG-reinforced APTS monoliths at 0.1 wt% functionalized, chemically converted graphene sheets compared with the neat APTS monolith were greatly improved by 19.9% and 92%, respectively.

Constructing Thin Polythiophene Film Composed of Aligned Lamellae via Controlled Solvent Vapor Treatment

Thin poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT) film composed of aligned lamellae attached to the edge of the original film has been achieved via a controlled solvent vapor treatment (C-SVT) method. The polarized optical microscopy operated at both single-polarization and cross-polarization modes has been used to investigate the alignment of the fiber-like lamellae. A numerical simulation method is used to quantitatively calculate angle distributions of the lamellae deviated from the film growth direction. Prepatterned P3BT film edge acts as nuclei which densely initialize subsequent crystal growth by exhausting the materials transported from the partially dissolved film. The growth of new film upon crystallization is actually a self-healing process where the two-dimensional geometric confinement is mainly responsible for this parallel alignment of P3BT crystals. The solvent vapor pressure should be carefully chosen so as to induce crystal growth but avoid liquid instability which will destroy the continuity of the film.

Controlled Synthesis of Ln(3+) (Ln = Tb, Eu, Dy) and V5+ Ion-Doped YPO4 Nano-/Microstructures with Tunable Luminescent Colors

YPO4 nano/microcrystals with multiform crystal phases and morphologies, such as hexagonal nano/submicroprisms, spherical-like nanoparticles, and nanorods with different length/diameter ratios as well as tetragonal nanospindles, have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route. A series of controlled experiments indicate that the pH values in the initial solution, phosphorus sources, and the organic additive trisodium citrate (Cit(3-)) are responsible for crystal phase and shape determination of final products. It is found that Cit(3-) as a ligand and shape modifier has the dynamic effect by adjusting the growth rate of different facets under different experimental conditions, resulting in the formation of various geometries of the final products. The possible formation mechanisms for products with diverse architectures have been presented.

Uniform Ln(OH)(3) and Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = Eu, Sm) Submicrospindles: Facile Synthesis and Characterization

Monodisperse hexagonal Ln(OH)(3) (Ln = Eu, Sm) submicrospindles with uniform morphology and size have been Successfully synthesized in a large scale via a Facile aqueous solution route from the mixture of aqueous solutions or LnCl(3) and NaOH at 5 degrees C without using any surfactant or template. The as-synthesized products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The SEM and TEM images show that the as-formed Ln(OH)(3) samples have a spindlelike shape with an equatorial diameter of 80-200 nm and a length of 500-900 nm, which are aggregates of even smaller nanoparticles.

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.

Effect of Poly (3-hexylthiophene) Nanofibrils on Charge Separation and Transport in Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells

Crystalline poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibrils are introduced into the P3HT: [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) composite films via P3HT preaggregation in solution by adding a small amount of acetone, and the correlation of P3HT nanofibrils and the optoelectronic properties of P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells is investigated. It is found that the optical absorption and the hole transport or the resulted P3HT:PCBM composite films increase with the increase of the amount of P3HT nanofibrils due to the increased P3HT crystallinity and highly interconnected nanofibrillar P3HT networks. However, it is also found that high contents of crystalline P3HT nanofibrils may restrain PCBM molecules from demixing with the P3HT component that forms electron traps in the active layer. and hence reduce the charge collection efficiency. Small contents of P3HT nanofibrils not only improve the demixing between P3HT and PCBM components, but also enhance the hole transport via crystalline P3HT nanofibrillar networks, resulting in efficient charge collection.

Preparation and luminescence properties of Mn2+-doped ZnGa2O4 nanofibers via electrospinning process

One-dimensional Mn2+-doped ZnGa2O4 nanofibers were prepared by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. SEM results indicated that the as-formed precursor fibers and those annealed at 700 degrees C are uniform with length of several tens to hundred micrometers, and the diameters of the fibers decrease greatly after being heated at 700 degrees C. Under ultraviolet excitation (246 nm) and low-voltage electron beams (1-3 kV) excitation, the ZnGa2O4:Mn2+ nanofibers presents the blue emission band of the ZnGa2O4 host lattice and the strong green emission with a peak at 505 nm corresponding to the T-4(1)-(6)A(1) transition of Mn2+ ion.

Self-assembled 3D flowerlike Lu2O3 and Lu2O3 : Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb, Dy, Pr, Sm, Er, Ho, Tm) microarchitectures: Ethylene glycol-mediated hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

Three-dimensional flowerlike Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Th, Dy, Pr, Sm, Er, Ho, Tm) microarchitectures have been successfully synthesized via ethylene glycol (EG)-mediated hydrothermal method followed by a subsequent heat treatment process. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometric analysis, ion chromatogram analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectra, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectra as well kinetic decays, and cathodoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. Hydrothermal temperature, EG, and CH3COONa play critical roles in the formation of the lutetium oxide precursor microflowers. The reaction mechanism and the self-assembly evolution process have been proposed. The as-formed lutetium oxide precursor could transform to Lu2O3 With their original flowerlike morphology and slight shrinkage in the size after postannealing process.

Harvesting Excitons Via Two Parallel Channels for Efficient White Organic LEDs with Nearly 100% Internal Quantum Efficiency: Fabrication and Emission-Mechanism Analysis

By incorporating two phosphorescent dyes, namely, iridium(III)[bis(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C-2']picolinate (Flrpic) for blue emission and bis(2-(9,9-diethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1 H-benzoimidazol-N,C-3) iridium(acetylacetonate) ((fbi)(2)Ir(acac)) for orange emission, into a single-energy well-like emissive layer, an extremely high-efficiency white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) with excellent color stability is demonstrated. This device can achieve a peak forward-viewing power efficiency of 42.5 lm W-1, corresponding to an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 19.3% and a current efficiency of 52.8 cd A(-1). Systematic studies of the dopants, host and dopant-doped host films in terms of photophysical properties (including absorption, photoluminescence, and excitation spectra), transient photoluminescence, current density-voltage characteristics, and temperature-dependent electroluminescence spectra are subsequently performed, from which it is concluded that the emission natures of Flrpic and (fbi)(2)Ir(acac) are, respectively, host-guest energy transfer and a direct exciton formation process. These two parallel pathways serve to channel the overall excitons to both dopants, greatly reducing unfavorable energy losses.

Origin of improvement in device performance via the modification role of cesium hydroxide doped tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum interfacial layer on ITO cathode in inverted bottom-emission organic light-emitting diodes

It has been found that cesium hydroxide (CsOH) doped tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) as an interfacial modification layer on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is an effective cathode structure in inverted bottom-emission organic light-emitting diodes (IBOLEDs). The efficiency and high temperature stability of IBOLEDs with CsOH:Alq(3) interfacial layer are greatly improved with respect to the IBOLEDs with the case of Cs2CO3:Alq(3). Herein, we have studied the origin of the improvement in efficiency and high temperature stability via the modification role of CsOH:Alq(3) interfacial layer on ITO cathode in IBOLEDs by various characterization methods, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and capacitance versus voltage (C-V). The results clearly demonstrate that the CsOH:Alq(3) interfacial modification layer on ITO cathode not only enhances the stability of the cathode interface and electron-transporting layer above it. which are in favor of the improvement in device stability, but also reduces the electron injection barrier and increases the carrier density for current conduction, leading to higher efficiency.

Polyimides Derived from 1,4-Bis [3-oxy-(N-aminophthalimide)] Benzene

A novel diamine, 1,4-bis [3-oxy-(N-aminophthalimide)] benzene (BOAPIB), was synthesized from 1,4-bis [3-oxy-(N-phenylphthalimide)] benzene and hydrazine. Its structure was determined via IR, H-1 NMR, and elemental analysis. A series of five-member ring, hydrazine-based polyimides were prepared from this diamine and various aromatic dianhydrides via one-step polycondensation in p-chlorophenol. The inherent viscosities of these polyimides were in the range of 0.17-0.61 dL/g. These polymers were soluble in polar aprotic solvents and phenols at room temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the 5% weight-loss temperatures of the polyimides were near 450 degrees C in air and 500 degrees C in nitrogen. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) indicated that the glass-transition temperatures (T(g)s) of these polymers were in the range of 265-360 degrees C. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction showed that all the polyimides were amorphous.

Facile shape-controlled synthesis of luminescent europium benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate architectures at room temperature

The large-scale synthesis of the metal-organic framework Eu(1,3,5-BTC)center dot 6H(2)O nanocrystallites with delicate morphologies such as sheaflike, butterflylike, and flowerlike superstructures composed of nanowires have been realized via a simple solution phase method at room temperature. Time-dependent experiments indicate that these superstructures were constructed by the splitting crystal growth mechanism, as has been noted in some minerals in nature. The synthetic parameters such as reaction time, concentration and molar ratio of reactants, surfactant, and reaction temperature all affected the morphology of the Eu(1,3,5-BTC)center dot 6H(2)O architectures. These well-arranged architectures exhibit red emission corresponding to the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of the Eu3+ ions under UV light excitation, and the lifetime is determined to be about 0.22 ms.

Coordination-Induced Formation of One-Dimensional Nanostructures of Europium Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate and Its Solid-State Thermal Transformation

Novel one-dimensional europium benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate compressed nanorods have been synthesized oil it large scale through direct precipitation in solution phase under moderate conditions without the assistance of any surfactant, catalyst, or template. The obtained nanorods have widths of about 50-100 not, thicknesses of 10-20 nm, and lengths ranging from a few hundred nanometers to several micrometers. X-ray powder diffraction. elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared Studies, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis show that the nanorods have the structural formula of Eu(1,3,5-BTC)center dot 6H(2)O. Upon UV excitation, these nanorods exhibit a highly efficient luminescence. which comes from the Eu3+ ions. Moreover, Eu2O3 nanorods Could also be obtained via a thermal decomposition method using the corresponding complex as a precursor. This synthetic route is promising for the preparation of other one-dimensional crystalline nanomaterials because of its simplicity and the low cost of the starting reagents.