Luminescence properties of SrB4O7: Eu, Tb phosphors

In this paper, the luminescence properties of SrB4O7: xEu, yTb phosphors were investigated. The SrB4O7: xEu, yTb phosphors were first synthesized in air atmosphere, and the emission spectra of Eu2+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions have been observed in phosphors. We found that the relative intensity of the emission of Eu2+ ion in the same matrix are increased when Tb3+ is incorporated in SrB4O7:Eu phosphor. So the valence state of europium is influenced by terbium. These phenomena can be explained using an electron transfer theory.

Electron transfer between Eu3+ and Tb3+ in BaB4O7 matrix

The BaB4O7:Eu, Tb phosphors are first synthesized in air atmosphere. We investigate their luminescent properties, and find that europium(II) and europium(III) can coexist in the BaB4O7:Eu phosphor. We observed that the relative intensity of europium(II) is increased when terbium(III) is incorporated. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra are carried out. The intensity of ESR peaks corresponding to europium(II) is also increased when terbium(III) is increased, so the valency state of europium is influenced by terbium(III). We explain these phenomena by an electron transfer mechanism. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

The phase transitions of hetero atoms substituted molecular sieves Me-VPI-5(Me=Mg, Ti, Sn, Si) and their influence on spectra structures of Eu(III) ion

The hetero atom substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves Me-VPI-5(Me = Mgt Ti, Sn, Si) were synthesized hydrothermally. Rare earth ions are originally doped into these microporous materials by aqueous solution ion exchange procedures. The phase transitions of the microporous materials are investigated by high-temperature and high-pressure experimental techniques. The influence of the phase transitions on the rare earth ions' spectral structures is discussed, With the increase of temperature, Eu(II)Mg-VPI-5 is converted into Eu(II)Mg-AIPO(4)-8, then into tridymite phase. The pressure has a notable influence on Eu(II) ion's spectral structures. The spectral structures have changed regularly with the increase of pressure.

ELECTRON-TRANSFER BETWEEN EU AND TB IN COMPLEX FLUORIDES

Europium (II) and europium (III) have been observed in MMgF(4):xEu, yTb (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors using their typical photoluminescence spectra when are synthesized in Ar or an Ar/H-2 stream. The valence state of Eu is influenced by terbium. It is notable that the intensities of the electron spin resonance peaks corresponding to Eu2+ change in a regular way when terbium ions are incorporated which can be explained by an electron transfer mechanism.

OBSERVATION OF EU2+ AND TB4+ IN SRMG4-EU8+, TB8+

Europium(II) and terbium(LV) drive boon observed in SrMgF4: Eu3+, Tb5+ phosphors which are synthesized in Ar stream. The valence state of europium is influenced by terbium. It is notable that the intensities of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) peaks corresponding to Eu2+ are increased when Tb3+ ion is incorporated in SrMgF4:Eu3+ phosphors, while X-ray photoelectron spectra of Tb-8d5/2 in SrMgF4:Eu3+,Tb3+ shows an additional peak at high energy to that of Tb-3d5/2 in SrMgF4: Tb3+, which is due to Tb4+. These phenomena can be explained by an electron transfer mechanism.

MOSSBAUER-EFFECT STUDIES OF A NEW ORGANOEUROPIUM COMPLEX [EU(ETA-6-C6ME6)(ALCL4)2]4

The Mossbauer spectrum of a new organoeuropium complex with a neutral pi-ligand, Eu(eta6-C6Me6) (AlCl4)2, is measured at 88 K. The Mossbauer parameters derived from the spectrum show the divalent nature of the europium ion in this organoeuropium complex. The calculations of the electric field gradient at the Eu nucleus in the crystal indicate that the Eu-Cl bond in the compound may possess a certain covalent character. The low Debye temperature of this complex may be attributed to weak and delocalized pi-bonding between the Eu atom and the benzene ring of hexamethylbenzene, and a slow paramagnetic relaxation is suggested by the Mossbauer effect.

Electron transfer between Eu3+ and Ce3+ in SrM-F-4 matrix

Emissions of europium (II) and europium (III) have been observed in SrMgF4:Eu and SrMgF4:Eu,Ce phosphors which are synthesized in Ar flow, It is notable that the intensity of the ESR peaks corresponding to Eu2+ is increased when cerium ion is incorporated which can be explained by electron transfer mechanism.

Electron Transfer and its Equilibrium between Eu and Tb in SrMgF4 System

Emission of europium(II) and europium(III) have been observed in SrMgF4 xEu, yTb phosphors winch are synthesized in Ar flow. The valence state of En is influenced by terbium, It is noted that the intensities of the ESR peaks corresponding to Eu2+ are increased when terbium ion is codopech this can be explained by electron transfer mechanism which is Eu3++Tb3+-->Eu2++Tb4+. And its equilibrium constant is calculated.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER-SUPPORTED LANTHANIDE COMPLEXES AND BUTADIENE POLYMERIZATION BASED ON THEM

Poly(styrene-acrylic acid)-lanthanide (Ln.PSAA) and poly(ethylene-acrylic acid)-neodymium (NdPEAA) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectra indicate that the lanthanide complexes possess the bidentate carboxylate structure Ln-O-C(R)-O (see structure B in text). The catalytic behavior of the complexes has been described. The catalytic activities of Nd.PSAA and Nd.PEAA are much greater than that of the corresponding low molecular weight catalyst for butadiene polymerization. The activities of various individual lanthanide elements are quite different from one another. Neodymium shows the highest activity. Europium, samarium and the heavy elements exhibit very low or no activities. The cis-1,4 content of the polybutadiene obtained is not affected by different lanthanide elements in the series. The complex with the intermediate content of the functional group has a higher activity than the others. The polymer-supported lanthanide complexes having different constitutions have different catalytic activities. When the molar ratio of lanthanide to the functional group is ca. 0.2, the activity of the complex is in the optimum state. The activity is influenced by the dispersion of the lanthanide metal immobilized on the polymer chain. Catalytic activity can be improved by adding other metals to the catalyst system.

MOSSBAUER-EFFECT STUDIES OF THE DIMER OF A BIMETALLIC EU-AL COMPLEX

Mossbauer spectra of the dimer of a bimetallic Eu-Al complex, [(CF3COO)3EuHAl(C2H5)2 . 2 THF]2 are measured at different temperatures (81 to 166 K) and some Mossbauer parameters, such as isomer shift, electric quadrupole splitting and asymmetric parameter, are derived from the experimental spectra. The Debye temperature of the compound determined by a Debye model is 128 K. The results indicate that europium in the organo-europium compound is trivalent and that a bridging hydrogen atom between two europium atoms exists in the dimer. The low Debye temperature implies that the weaker binding force between the europium atom and the lattice may be related to the structure and the chemical bonding in the organometallic compound of europium.

Inorganic glasses, glass-forming liquids and amorphizing solids

Greaves, George; Sen, S., (2007) 'Inorganic glasses, glass-forming liquids and amorphizing solids', Advances in Physics 56(1) pp.1-166 RAE2008

The formation of nanotubes and nanocoils of molybdenum disulphide

This work reports the successful realization of MoS2 nanotubes by a novel intercalation chemistry and hydrothermal treatment. An inorganic-organic precursor of hexadecylamine (HDA) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) were used in synthesizing the nanocomposite comprising laminar MoS2 with HDA intercalated in the interlaminar spacing. The formation of MoS2 nanotubes occurred during hydrothermal treatment (HT) by a self-organized rolling mechanism. The nanotubes were observed to have dimensions 2-12 µm in length and inner diameters typically in the range of 25-100 nm. We also report the formation of amorphous nanocoils of MoS2 obtained during similar procedures.

Synthesis and characterization of oxide materials

Nanostructured materials are central to the evolution of future electronics and biomedical applications amongst other applications. This thesis is focused on developing novel methods to prepare a number of nanostructured metal oxide particles and films by a number of different routes. Part of the aim was to see how techniques used in nanoparticle science could be applied to thin film methods to develop functional surfaces. Wet-chemical methods were employed to synthesize and modify the metal oxide nanostructures (CeO2 and SiO2) and their structural properties were characterized through advanced X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy and other techniques. Whilst particulates have uses in many applications, their attachment to surfaces is of importance and this is frequently challenging. We examined the use of block copolymer methods to form very well defined metal oxide particulate-like structures on the surface of a number of substrates. Chapter 2 describes a robust method to synthesize various sized silica nanoparticles. As-synthesized silica nanoparticles were further functionalized with IR-820 and FITC dyes. The ability to create size controlled nanoparticles with associated (optical) functionality may have significant importance in bio-medical imaging. Thesis further describes how non-organic modified fluorescent particles might be prepared using inorganic oxides. A study of the concentrations and distributions of europium dopants within the CeO2 nanoparticles was undertaken and investigated by different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The luminescent properties were enhanced by doping and detailed explanations are reported. Additionally, the morphological and structural evolution and optical properties were correlated as a function of concentrations of europium doping as well as with further annealing. Further work using positron annihilation spectroscopy allowed the study of vacancy type defects formed due to europium doping in CeO2 crystallites and this was supported by complimentary UV-Vis spectra and XRD work. During the last few years the interest in mesoporous silica materials has increased due to their typical characteristics such as potential ultra-low dielectric constant materials, large surface area and pore volume, well-ordered and uniform pores with adjustable pores between 2 and 50 nm. A simple, generic and cost-effective route was used to demonstrate the synthesis of 2D mesoporous silica thin films over wafer scale dimensions in chapter 5. Lithographic resist and in situ hard mask block copolymer followed by ICP dry etching were used to fabricate mesoporous silica nanostructures. The width of mesoporous silica channels can be varied by using a variety of commercially available lithographic resists whereas depth of the mesoporous silica channels can be varied by altering the etch time. The crystal structure, morphology, pore arrangement, pore diameters, thickness of films and channels were determined by XRD, SEM, ellipsometry and the results reported. This project also extended work towards the study of the antimicrobial study of nanopatterned silver nanodot arrays formed using the block copolymer approach defined above. Silver nanodot arrays were successfully tested for antimicrobial activity over S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms and results shows silver nanodots has good antimicrobial activity for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms. Thus, these silver nanodot arrays shows a potential to be used as a substitute for the resolution of infection complications in many areas.

Imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolines: Versatile ligands for the design of metallomesogens

2-Aryl-substituted imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolines were used as building blocks for metal-containing liquid crystals (metallomesogens). Imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolines are versatile ligands because they can form stable complexes with various d-block transition metals, including platinum(II) and rhenium(I), as well as with lanthanide(III) and uranyl ions and they can easily be structurally modified by a judicious choice of benzaldehyde precursor. None of the ligands designed for this study were liquid-crystalline. However, mesomorphism could be induced by their coordination to various metallic fragments. The thermal behavior of the metal complexes depended on the metal-to-ligand ratio and the substitution pattern of the coordinating ligands. Complexes with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:1 [ML, with M = Pt(II), Re(I)] were not liquid-crystal line. The lanthanide(III) complexes with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:2 [ML2 with M = Ln(III)] formed an enantiotropic cubic mesophase or were not liquid-crystalline, depending on the nature of the lanthanide(III) ion and the substitution pattern of the ligands. A 1:3 uranyl complex of the type [ML3](2+) exhibited a hexagonal columnar mesophase over a broad temperature range. Self-assembled monolayers of a europium(III) complex were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy, which revealed that the complex formed well-ordered structures over long distances at the 1-octanoic acid-graphite interface. The rhenium(I) complexes and the europium(III) complexes with 2-thenoyl-trifluoroacetonate or dibenzoylmethanate and imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline showed good luminescence properties.

Listening to lanthanide complexes: Determination of the intrinsic luminescence quantum yield by nonradiative relaxation

The photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes have been studied extensively; however, fundamental parameters such as the intrinsic quantum yield as well as radiative and nonradiative decay rates are difficult or even impossible to measure experimentally. Herein, a photoacoustic (PA) method is proposed to determine the intrinsic quantum yield of lanthanide complexes with lifetimes in the order of milliseconds. This method is used to determine the intrinsic quantum yields for europium (III)-containing metallomesogens as well as terbium(III) complexes. The results show that the PA signal is sensitive to both the lifetime and the ratio of the fast-to-slow heat component of the samples. It is found that there is an efficient ligand sensitization and a moderate intrinsic quantum yield for the complexes. The intrinsic quantum yield of Eu3+ in the metallomesogens exhibits an obvious increase upon the isotropic liquid to smectic A transition. The proposed PA method is quite simple, and con contribute to a clearer understanding of the photophysical processes in luminescent lanthanide complexes.