Photoluminescence properties of LaF3: Eu3+ nanoparticles prepared by refluxing method

The europium-doped LaF3 nanoparticles were prepared by refluxing method in glycerol/water mixture and characterized with X-ray diffraction(XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, and photoluminescence spectra. The results of XRD indicated that the obtained LaF3: Eu3+ nanoparticles were well crystallized with a hexagonal structure. ne FE-SEM image illustrated that the LaF3: Eu3+ nanoparticles were spherical with an average size around 30 nm. Under irradiation of UV light, the emission spectrum of LaF3: Eu3+ nanoparticles exhibited the characteristic line emissions arising front the D-5(0)-> F-7(J), (J=1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of the Eu3+ ions, with the dominating emission centered at 590 nm. In addition, the emissions from the 51), level could be clearly observed due to the low phonon energies (-350 cm(-1)) of LaF3 matrix. The optimum doping concentration for LaF3: Eu3+ nanoparticles was determined to be 20mol.%.

Towards the development of fiber lasers for the 2 to 4 nanom spectral region

A growing number of applications are calling for compact laser sources operating in the mid-infrared spectral region. A review of our recent work on monolithic fiber lasers (FL) based either on the use of rare-earth fluoride fibers or on Raman gain in both fluoride and chalcogenide glass fibers is presented. Accordingly, an erbium-doped double clad fluoride glass all-FL operating in the vicinity of 3 μm is shown. In addition, we present recent results on the first demonstrations of both fluoride and chalcogenide Raman fiber lasers operating at 2.23 and 3.34 μm, respectively. It is shown that based on this approach, monolithic FLs could be developed to cover the whole 2 to 4 μm spectral band.

Investigation of the effect of fluoride ions introduction on structural, OH- content and up-conversion luminescence properties in Er3+-doped heavy metal oxide glasses

Effect of fluoride ions introduction on structural, OH- content and up-conversion luminescence properties in Er3+-doped heavy metal oxide glasses have been investigated. Structure was investigated, indicating that fluoride has an important influence on the phonon density, maximum phonon energy of host glasses. With increasing fluoride content, the up-conversion luminescence intensity and quantum efficiencies increase notably, which could not be explained only by the maximum phonon energy change of host glasses. Our results show that, with the introduction of PbF2, the decrease of phonon density and OH- content contributes more to the enhanced up-conversion emissions than that of maximum phonon energy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

UV-blue upconverted emission from Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses for blue upconversion fibre laser

We report spectral properties and thermal stability of Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses. Fluoroindate glasses in the chemical compositions (in mol%) of (38-x)InF3-16BaF(2)-20ZnF(2)-20SrF(2)-3GdF(3)-1GaF(3-)2NaF-xNdF(3) (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3) have been prepared under a controlled atmosphere in a dry box. Strong UVblue upconversion emission from a green excitation wavelength has been observed and the involved mechanisms have been explained. Near-infrared emission occurs simultaneously upon excitation of the UV-blue upconversion emissions with a cw Ar(+)laser. The upconversion spectra have revealed four dominant emissions at 354, 380, 412 and 449 nm, which belong to the transitions of D-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(13/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(11/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(13/2), respectively.

Investigation on preparation and fluorescence properties of oxy-fluoride glass co-doped with Er3+ and Yb3+

The glass sample based on the composition of 45PbF(2)-45GeO(2)-10WO(3) co-doped with Yb3+/Er3+ was prepared by the fusion method in two steps: melted at 950 degreesC for 20 similar to 25 min then annealed at 380 degreesC for 4 h. Through the V-prism it is found that the refractive index of host glass and the sample are 1.517 and 1.65 respectively. The transmittance was observed by using the ultraviolet-visible-infrared spectrometer in the wavelength range from 0.35 to 2.5mum. The transmittaitce of the host glass is beyond 73%. That of the sample is beyond 50% and there are characteristic absorption peaks of rare-earth ions. The emission spectrum was measured by using the Hitachi F-4500 fluorescent spectrometer pumped by 980 nm semiconductor laser. There are a strong emission peak at 530 nm and a weak peak at 650 nm.

Numerical modeling of holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers

We combine all the known experimental demonstrations and spectroscopic parameters into a numerical model of the Ho3+ -doped fluoride glass fiber laser system. Core-pumped and cladding-pumped arrangements were simulated for all the population-bottlenecking mitigation schemes that have been tested, and good agreement between the model and the previously reported experimental results was achieved in most but not in all cases. In a similar way to Er3+ -doped fluoride glass fiber lasers, we found that the best match with measurements required scaled-down rate parameters for the energy transfer processes that operate in moderate to highly concentrated systems. The model isolated the dominant processes affecting the performance of each of the bottlenecking mitigation schemes and pump arrangements. It was established that pump excited-state absorption is the main factor affecting the performance of the core-pumped demonstrations of the laser, while energy transfer between rare earth ions is the main factor controlling the performance in cladding-pumped systems.

Modeling and optimization of cascaded erbium and holmium doped fluoride fiber lasers

Numerical modeling of cascade erbium-doped and holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers is presented. Fiber lengths were optimized for cascade lasers that had fixed or free-running wavelengths using all known spectroscopic parameters. The performance of the cascade laser was tested against dopant concentration, energy transfer process, heat generation, output coupling, and pump schemes. The results suggest that the slope efficiencies and thresholds for both transitions increase with increasing Ho3+ or Er3+ concentration with the slope efficiency stabilizing after 1 mol% rare earth doping. The heat generation in the Ho3+-based system is lower compared to the Er 3+-based system at low dopant concentration as a result of the lower rates of multiphonon relaxation. Decreasing the output coupling for the upper (∼3 μm) transition decreases the threshold of the lower transition and the upper transition benefits from decreasing the output coupling for the lower transition for both cascade systems. The highest slope efficiency was achieved under counter-propagating pump conditions. Saturation of the output power occurs at comparatively higher pump power with dilute Er3+ doping compared with heavier doping. Overall, we show that the cascade Ho3+ -doped fluoride laser is the best candidate for high power output because of its higher slope efficiency and lower temperature excursion of the core and no saturation of the output. © 2013 IEEE.

Mid-infrared passively switched pulsed dual wavelength Ho3+ -doped fluoride fiber laser at 3 μm and 2 μm

Cascade transitions of rare earth ions involved in infrared host fiber provide the potential to generate dual or multiple wavelength lasing at mid-infrared region. In addition, the fast development of saturable absorber (SA) towards the long wavelengths motivates the realization of passively switched mid-infrared pulsed lasers. In this work, by combing the above two techniques, a new phenomenon of passively Q-switched ~3 μm and gain-switched ~2 μm pulses in a shared cavity was demonstrated with a Ho3+-doped fluoride fiber and a specifically designed semiconductor saturable absorber (SESAM) as the SA. The repetition rate of ~2 μm pulses can be tuned between half and same as that of ~3 μm pulses by changing the pump power. The proposed method here will add new capabilities and more flexibility for generating mid-infrared multiple wavelength pulses simultaneously that has important potential applications for laser surgery, material processing, laser radar, and free-space communications, and other areas.

Influence of heat treatment on spectroscopic properties of Er3+ in multicomponent ZrF4-ZnF2-AlF3-YF3-MF2 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) based glass

Er3+ doped multicomponent fluoride based glass was prepared. These precursor fluoride glass samples were then heated using different schedules. Crystalline phase particles were successfully precipitated in the multicomponent fluoride glass samples after heat treatment. The influence of heat treatment on the spectroscopic properties of Er3+ in multicomponent fluoride based glass samples were discussed. Small changes of the Judd-Ofelt parameters Omega(i) (i = 2,4,6) were found in multicomponent fluoride glass samples before and after heat treatment compared to oxyfluoride telluride glass. Preparation conditions used to produce transparent multicomponent fluoride glass ceramics doped with rare-earth ions are discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental study on a nonlinear photonics process of Er(0.5)Yb(3): FOV oxyfluoride nanophase vitroceramics

We study the nonlinear photonics of rare-earth-doped oxyfluoride nanophase vitroceramics (FOV), oxyfluoride glass (FOG), and ZBLAN fluoride glass. We found that an interesting fluorescence intensity inversion phenomenon between red and green fluorescence occurs from Er(0.5)Yb(3):FOV The dynamic range Sigma of the intensity inversion between red and green fluorescence of Er(0.5)Yb(3):FOV is about 5.753 x 10(2), which is 100 to 1000 times larger than those of other materials. One of the applications of this phenomenon is double-wavelength fluorescence falsification-preventing technology, which is proved to possess the novel antifriction loss and antiscribble properties. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Effect of OH- on upconversion luminescence of Er3(+)-doped oxyhalide tellurite glasses

The Raman spectra, infrared spectra and upconversion luminescence spectra were studied, and the effect mechanism of OH- groups on the upconversion luminescence of Er3+-doped oxyhalide tellurite glasses was analyzed. The results show that the phonon energy of lead chloride tellurite (PCT) glass was lower than that of lead fluoride tellurite (PFT) glass, but upconversion luminescence intensity of Er3+-doped PFT glass was higher than that of Er3+-doped PCT glass. The analysis considers that it was attributed mainly to the effect of OH- groups. The lower the absorption coefficient of the OH- groups, the higher the fluorescence lifetime of Er3+, and as a result the higher upconversion luminescence intensity of Er3+. In this work, the effect of OH groups on the upconversion luminescence of Er3+ was bigger than that of the phonon energy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

氟化物无机纳米粒子的制备及其稀土掺杂体系的光谱性质

对于纳米复合材料来说，首要解决的问题就是光散射。光散射现象主要是粒子尺寸以及粒子与基质材料折射率的差异引起的。对于小粒子（＜25nm），纳米粒子与基质材料之间的折射率差异不会造成明显的光散射现象，但对于较大粒子来说，为避免明显的光散射现象的发生，二者之间的折射必须吻合。由瑞利散射公式计算得知，当粒子直径大到100nm时，粒子与基质之间的折射率差值必须在0.02之内。因此，解决复合材料光散射问题有两种途径：尽量减小纳米粒子尺寸；选择折射率匹配良好的氟化物和聚合物分别作光学活性组分的基质和材料的基底材料。由于微乳液法合成纳米粒子条件温和、设备简单，所合成纳米粒子尺寸可控。本文首先研究了微乳液结构和性质，采用微乳液法合成氟化物纳米粒子，并研究了其稀土掺杂体系的光学性质。对于微乳液结构和性质的研究，本文绘制了十六烷基三甲基嗅化钱（CTAB）／正丁醇（n-C_4H_9OH）／正辛烷（n-C_8H_(18)）／水（或NH4F溶液、或Ba(NO_3)_2溶液、或KNO_3-Mg(NO_3)_2混合溶液）四组分微乳体系的三元相图，观察了电导率随水（或豁溶液）含量变化的规律，很好地印证了微乳液体系的相行为。实验发现，在这四个四元体系的相图中，Ba(NO_3)_2溶液体系的油包水区域面积最大，纯水体系水包油微乳区面积最小，我们分析认为水包油微乳区面积的变化是由于体系中加入离子后对表面活性剂阳离子的静电作用所引起的。采用十六烷基三甲基澳化按（CTAB）／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系合成了KMgF_3以及KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子。XRD分析表明所合成纳米粒子为立方KMgF_3单相；环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）分析得到所合成KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子粒径约为20nm。KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子光谱研究发现其发射峰位于360nm附近，其激发峰位于250nm附近，较KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)单晶的激发峰峰蓝移了约80nm。对KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子激发峰蓝移的机理进行了初步探讨。采用CTAB/2-丁醇／水微乳体系合成出球形BaF_2纳米粒子，XRD和ICP数据显示样品为纯BaF_2相；FTIR谱图证明体系中没有有机物质的存在。将由纳米粒子分散到水中所形成的胶体滴到铜网上，干燥后发现所合成粒子有自组装的特性摘要且粒子自组装形状因粒子尺寸以及样品制备过程而异。粒子的自组装完全是自发的，没有任何的化学试剂对粒子进行包覆，也没对粒子施加除超声分散之外的任何外力。当将一滴胶体溶液直接滴到铜网上，干燥后我们得到粒子的圆形自组装，较大粒子分布在外围形成一个圆，较小粒子分布在圆的内部形成环；我们将一滴BaF_2纳米粒子胶体溶液滴加到铜网上，待干燥后滴加第二滴，重复此操作两次，这样铜网上共滴加的胶体溶液为3滴，此时我们得到粒子的双平行线型组装；直接滴加3滴BaF_2纳米粒子胶体溶液到铜网上，干燥后得粒子的桶状自组装。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系于35℃下合成带有枝晶的BaF_2纳米立方。这些枝晶生长在纳米立方的两个相邻面之间呈片状弧形。粉末XRD分析表明，体系为BaF_2单相且结晶良好；用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对粒子进行分析发现，所得纳米立方边长为400-450nm；FTIR分析表明，经处理后样品中没有有机物质残存；对枝晶的能谱分析（EDS）分析表明，枝晶中只有Ba和F两种元素而未发现C元素存在。这说明，立方上所生长的枝晶为纯BaF_2产物而非有机物质所形成的。试验发现，所合成粒子的尺寸和形状依赖于反应温度和反应时间。采用士一述体系，于25℃下反应，可得到横截面边长40nm，长200nm的立方柱状纳米粒子，并且未见枝晶。从不同反应时间所合成粒子的形状上我们可以估计纳米立方以及枝晶的住：长过程。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系首次合成了BaF_2:Er纳米粒子，并研究了掺杂浓度对粒子红外发光的影响，XRD分析表明所合成BaF_2:Er纳米粒子为BaF_2立方相，物相纯净，结晶良好；TEM分析表明在掺杂浓度为6mol％时，粒子尺寸为15-20nm，士曾大粒子的掺杂浓度（8，10和12mol％）下，其尺寸和形状无明显改变，但粒子团聚现象严重。粒子在氢离子激光器488nm激发下的荧光（PL）光谱显示，随粒子掺杂浓度的增大，其发光强度增强，半峰宽加宽。研究了BoF_2:Er纳米粒子尺寸对其发光强度的影响，通过调节体系中水含量以达到控制粒子尺寸的目的。在体系中水含量。分别为5，8，15的条件「分别合成出平均粒径约为8，10和20.5nm的粒子。从粒子的激光粒度分布图中我们可得到粒子的平均尺寸。从粒子的XRD图中我们可以发现，随粒子粒径的减小，粉末的衍射峰出现偏移的情况。对于不同种纳米粒子，粒子粒径越小，衍射峰偏移越严重；对于相同的粒子，衍射角度越大，衍射峰偏移的越严重。从三种粒子的红峰的半峰宽和有效半峰宽越宽，对于8nm粒径的粒子，我们得到其最大半峰宽为145nm或有效半峰宽173nm。而且随粒子粒径的减小，其发射峰出现红移的现象。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系首次合成了CeF_3以及掺杂浓度为17，25，30，42和50mol％的CeF_3:Lu纳米粒子。XRD分析表明，所合成纳米粒子为CeF_3六角相，物相纯净，结晶良好，即使在高的掺杂浓度下（50mol％）体系中一也无其他杂质相的存在。环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM-FEG）分析表明，所合成CeF_3纳米粒子粒径为巧一20nm，Lu的掺入对粒子的形状和尺寸影响不明显，但在较高的掺杂浓度下粒子团聚现象严重。粒子的荧光光谱表明，CeF_3以及Lu：CeF_3纳米粒子在254nm的激发波长下的发射光谱从290nm到400nm的宽带发射，发射峰位于325nm，较单晶体的发射峰红移约30nm；Lu的掺入有利于提高CeF_3纳米粒子的发光强度，随Lu掺入量的增大，粒子的发光强度出现先增后减的情况，在掺杂浓度为30mol％时，我们得到CeF_3纳米粒子的最大发射，但在50mol％的掺杂浓度下的粒子的发射强度仍要比未掺杂体系的发光强度要强。325nln监测粒子的激发光谱是从200nm到350nm的宽带吸收，激发峰峰位于260nm左右。比CeF_3单晶体的280nm激发峰蓝移了20nm左右。而且粒子的激发光谱中未见长波方向上的肩峰，说明粒子中CeF_3纳米粒子结晶良好，且体系中氧含量低。采用自创建一步原位聚合的方法合成了聚合物包覆的纳米粒子，并采用本体聚合的方法合成复合材料。综上所述，本文采用微乳液法合成了不同的氟化物纳米粒子，并研究了其稀土掺杂体系的光学特性，为聚合物基复合材料的制备以及应用奠定了可靠的实验基础。

The solid-liquid extraction of yttrium from rare earths by solvent (ionic liquid) impreganated resin coupled with complexing method

A kind of solvent (ionic liquid) impreganated resin (IL-SIR) was developed herein for ameliorating imidazolium-type IL-based liquid-liquid extraction of metal ions. In this study, [C(8)mim][PF6] containing Cyanex923 was immobilized on XAD-7 resin for solid-liquid extraction of rare earth (RE). The solid-liquid extraction contributed to ameliorating mass transfer efficiency, i.e. shortening equilibrium time from 40 min to 20 min, increasing extraction efficiency from 29% to 80%. In additional, the novel IL-SIR could separate Y(III) from Sc(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Yb(III) effectively by adding water-soluble complexing agent.

Synergistic extraction of rare earths using acid-base coupling extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative and primary amine N1923

Synergistic effect in the extraction of rare earth (RE) metals by the acid-base coupling (ABC) extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative Bu-t[4]CH2COOH (H(4)A) and primary amine N1923 (RNH2) has been investigated. The extraction of RE was enhanced by the addition of sodium cations into the aqueous phase not only in the extraction system of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH alone but also in the mixture of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH and N1923. The separation factors (SFs) indicating the extraction selectivity of adjacent RE elements became higher in the mixture system.

Investigation of Chemical Bond Characteristics, Thermal Expansion Coefficients and Bulk Moduli of alpha-R2MoO6 and R2Mo2O7 (R = rare earths) by Using a Dielectric Chemical Bond Method

Theoretical researches are performed on the alpha-R2MoO6 (R = Y, Gd, Tb Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb) and pyrochlore-type R2Mo2O7 (R = Y, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy) rare earth molybdates by using chemical bond theory of dielectric description. The chemical bonding characteristics and their relationship with thermal expansion property and compressibility are explored. The calculated values of linear thermal expansion coefficient (LTEC) and bulk modulus agree well with the available experimental values. The calculations reveal that the LTECs and the bulk moduli do have linear relationship with the ionic radii of the lanthanides: the LTEC decreases from 6.80 to 6.62 10(-6)/K and the bulk modulus increases from 141 to 154 GPa when R goes in the order Gd, Tb Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb in the alpha-R2MoO6 series; while in the R2Mo2O7 series, the LTEC ranges from 6.80 to 6.61 10(-6)/K and the bulk modulus ranges from 147 to 163 GPa when R varies in the order Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy.