Synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet nanoparticles in confined environment III: Cerium doping effect

Abstract Cerium yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG, CexY3-xAl5O12) nanoparticles doped with different cerium amount were obtained by calcining the precursors synthesized via co-precipitation in w/o microemulsion for 1 h at 900 °C. The structural and morphological properties were investigated by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) in order to investigate the effect of doping level on formation and microstructure of obtained nanoparticles. It was found that the composition of the final products strongly depends on the concentration of cerium. The formation of single YAG phase …

Graphene coating obtained in a cold-wall CVD process on the Co-Cr Alloy (L-605) for medical applications

Graphene coating on the cobalt-chromium alloy was optimized and successfully carried out by a cold-wall chemical vapor deposition (CW-CVD) method. A uniform layer of graphene for a large area of the Co-Cr alloy (discs of 10 mm diameter) was confirmed by Raman mapping coated area and analyzing specific G and 2D bands

Effect of Ce3+ concentration on persistent luminescence of YAGG:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ nanophosphors obtained by the co-precipitation method

Abstract Synthesis of Y3Al2Ga3O12 garnet (YAGG) nanophosphors co-doped with Ce3+, Cr3+, and Nd3+ ions by co-precipitation is reported. The effect of Ce3+ concentration on the structure of garnet and on optical properties including persistent luminescence was investigated. The X-ray diffraction measurements showed that single garnet phase was obtained. The contraction of the crystallites size was observed with increasing the cerium concentration. The combined emission of three used co-dopants together allows to extend persistent luminescence spectral range. The photoluminescence, excitation and persistent luminescence spectra were collected and the optimal Ce3+ concentration for the highest …

Non-conventional Ce:YAG nanostructures via urea complexes

AbstractCe:YAG nanostructures (Ce:YAG = Cerium in Yttrium Aluminium Garnet), easy to control and shape, have been prepared via templating approach using natural and synthetic materials (i.e. paper, cotton wool and glass wool) previously soaked with a gel-like metals precursor and then thermally treated to achieve the wished morphology. The final material, otherwise difficult to process, can be easily moulded, it is lightweight, portable and forms, at the nanoscale, homogeneous layers of interconnected but not agglomerated nanoparticles (15 ± 5 nm). Using the same synthetic route, called Urea-Glass-Route, but in absence of a template, extremely pure Ce:YAG nanoparticle (45 ± 5 nm) can be als…

Luminescence properties of Tb3+:Y3Al5O12 nanocrystallites prepared by the sol–gel method

Tb 3+ :YAG nanocrystalline powders have been prepared by the sol-gel route. Structure and morphology of the obtained materials have been studied. The average grain sizes have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction measurements. Photo- and cathodoluminescence spectra of the Tb 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 powders have been measured. It has been found that the samples at low concentration demonstrate emission ascribable to the 5 D 3 →F J and 5 D 4 → 7 F J transitions. In particular, the concentration dependence of the luminescence spectra and lifetimes have been investigated as a function of the YAG grains sizes. It has been shown that the cross-relaxation responsible for the quenching of the 5 D 3…

Microwave-Driven Hydrothermal Synthesis of Oxide Nanopowders for Applications in Optoelectronics

Effect of hydrothermal time on the forming specific morphology of YPO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles for dedicated luminescent applications as optical markers

A way to control the desired shape and microstructure of YPO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles through the precipitation method followed by a hydrothermal treatment is reported. This method is useful for achieving very high control over the YPO4:Eu3+ formation process with the selection of appropriate synthesis parameters. In detail, the autoclave processing time allows control of the shape and size of nano-needle-shaped particles independently in both directions, as confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction, FT-IR Spectroscopy and Electron Transmission Microscopy. In order to analyse the effect of the nanoparticles’ surroundings on the excitation and relaxation processes of luminescent ions, Eu3+ ion was us…

Graphene Oxide Carboxymethylcellulose Nanocomposite for Dressing Materials.

Sore, infected wounds are a major clinical issue, and there is thus an urgent need for novel biomaterials as multifunctional constituents for dressings. A set of biocomposites was prepared by solvent casting using different concentrations of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and exfoliated graphene oxide (Exf-GO) as a filler. Exf-GO was first obtained by the strong oxidation and exfoliation of graphite. The structural, morphological and mechanical properties of the composites (CMCx/Exf-GO) were evaluated, and the obtained composites were homogenous, transparent and brownish in color. The results confirmed that Exf-GO may be homogeneously dispersed in CMC. It was found that the composite has an i…

Sicilian Byzantine Icons through the Use of Non-Invasive Imaging Techniques and Optical Spectroscopy: The Case of the Madonna dell’Elemosina

The iconographic heritage is one of the treasures of Byzantine art that have enriched the south of Italy, and Sicily in particular, since the early 16th century. In this work, the investigations of a Sicilian Icon of Greek-Byzantine origin, the Madonna dell’Elemosina, is reported for the first time. The study was carried out using mainly non-invasive imaging techniques (photography in reflectance and grazing visible light, UV fluorescence, infrared reflectography, radiography, and computed tomography) and spectroscopic techniques (X-ray fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy). The identification of the constituent materials provides a decisive contribution to the correct historical and arti…

Ce:Y3Al5O12−Poly(methyl methacrylate) Composite for White-Light-Emitting Diodes

A Ce:YAG-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite was prepared by using the melt compounding method. The structure and morphology were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The optical properties (emission, excitation, and fluorescence decay rate) of the composite were studied by using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The polymer–filler interactions were studied using 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy (13C{1H} CP-MAS NMR). The results indicated that Ce:YAG particles are well-dispersed in the PMMA matrix without loss of their luminescence properties or significant spectral shift, thus suggesting t…

Particle size-related limitations of persistent phosphors based on the doped Y3Al2Ga3O12 system

AbstractCo-doped Ce3+, Cr3+ and Pr3+ yttrium–aluminium–gallium garnet powders of various sizes were obtained by co-precipitation method. The microstructure and morphology were investigated by XRPD, TEM and gas porosimetry. The luminescence properties were studied by excitation and emission spectra, quantum yield and decay times. Thermoluminescence measurements were performed to evaluate the activation energy, traps redistribution and frequency factor. Limitation in the energy transfer between dopant ions in the small particles, traps depth and surface defects were considered and investigated as responsible for the quenching of persistent luminescence. The phosphors annealed at 1100 °C show …

Optical behavior of Eu3+-doped BaTiO3 nano-crystallites prepared by sol–gel method

Abstract Eu 3+ -doped BaTiO 3 nano-crystallites with grain sizes 32–38 nm have been obtained by a sol–gel method. It has been found that the luminescence characteristics are strongly dependent on the sintering temperature. Powders sintered at temperatures below 1000 °C demonstrate a luminescence behavior at room temperature associated with a lack of the inversion symmetry of Eu 3+ sites. Above 1000 °C nano-crystallites undergo a phase transition characterized by an inversion symmetry of Eu 3+ sites. The size effect of Eu 3+ :BaTiO 3 nano-crystallites on luminescence characteristics is observed.

Effect of annealing temperature on persistent luminescence of Y3Al2Ga3O12:Cr3+ co-doped with Ce3+ and Pr3+

Abstract Y3(Al,Ga)5O12 (YAGG) materials doped with Ce3+, Cr3+ and Pr3+ were synthesized by using a modified Pechini method and subsequently annealed in air at selected temperatures between 900 and 1500 °C. According to X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, the particles and size distributions become large and broad, respectively, due to sintering and agglomeration at high annealing temperatures. Based on infrared (FTIR) spectra and calculation of multi-phonon de-excitation probabilities, the high energy O–H vibrations are not causing significant multi-phonon de-excitation of the emitting 5d level of Ce3+ if the annealing temperature is above 90…

Effect of surface impurities on downconversion luminescence of Pr3+, Yb3+ activated SrF2 nanoparticles

Abstract Pr3+,Yb3+ activated SrF2 nanoparticles synthesized by low-temperature hydrothermal method were studied. The composition and size of nanoparticles were intentionally changed by controlling synthesis conditions. After structural and morphological characterization, the spectroscopic properties of the nanoparticles were analyzed in the visible and near infrared spectra ranges. The results show correlation between the gradual change of the amount of carboxylate and hydroxyl moieties on the nanoparticle surface, varied by the size nanoparticles and the quenching of the luminescence. The size-related amount of surface quenchers is strongly connected to the decrease of the downconversion e…

Effect of annealing treatment on the persistent luminescence of Y3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Pr3+ ceramics

Abstract The Y3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Pr3+ (YAGG) persistent luminescent ceramics were sintered in static air (without airflow) and followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment. The low aggregated and relatively narrow particle-size distributed starting powders, with the particle size of about 50 nm, were synthesized by using Pechini method and then annealed at 900 °C for 16 h in static air. Compared to nano-phosphors, the ceramics exhibited more intense and longer persistent luminescence (PersL). The photoluminescence and PersL spectra were found to have a similar shape, indicating that the emitting centers for photoluminescence and PersL processes were same. The intense Ce3+ and Cr3+ b…

Luminescent YPO4:Eu@PVA dispersions for anti-counterfeiting ink applications

A method was developed to obtain YPO4:Eu dispersions of PVA as a luminescent inks. YPO4:Eu nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation followed by hydrothermal treatment. The dispersion preparation included systematic studies to prepare a stable colloidal system and to investigate the role of parameters affecting its stability and UV-excited YPO4:Eu emission intensity. The effect of PVA concentration was studied in detail for two different PVAs to determine the optimal parameters for its use as ink with specific luminescent properties. The type of interactions responsible for the dispersion stability was also investigated.

Optical studies of Y3(Al,Ga)5O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ nano-phosphors obtained by the Pechini method

The Y-3(Al,Ga)(5)O-12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ (YAGG) nano-phosphors with homogeneous particle-size distribution, low aggregation and average crystalline size of about 65 nm were obtained using a modified Pechini method. Only slight aggregation of the crystallites occurs after post-annealing at 1100 degrees C. The intense Ce3+ bands in the excitation spectra of the Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ co-doped materials monitoring the Cr3+ emission at 690 nm indicate energy transfer from Ce(3+ )to Cr3+. Weak Nd3+ lines are observed, as well. In addition, the emission of Nd3+ at 1060 nm with excitation of Ce3+ and Cr3+ confirms the Ce3+/Cr3+ to Nd3+ energy transfer. The short average luminescence decay times for the Ce3+ e…

Urea Glass Route as a Way to Optimize YAGG:Ce3+,Cr3+,Pr3+ Nanocrystals for Persistent Luminescence Applications

A new approach for the synthesis of Y3Al2Ga3O12 (YAGG) nanophosphors allowing the preparation of crystallites with sizes starting from 45 nm is presented. The controllability of the energy and trap density of the resulting material samples by annealing temperature was confirmed by thermoluminescence (TL) measurements. It has been shown that the annealing of samples at temperatures up to 1300 degrees C does not cause any substantial growth of crystallites, still remaining below 100 nm, but leads to changes in the activation energy of the persistent luminescence (PersL) process. On the other hand, annealing above 1400 degrees C results in grain growth on the submicron scale, which was confirm…

Influence of cerium content and heat treatment on Ce:YAG@glass wool nanostructures

The paper reports the influence of cerium content and heat treatment on composition, structural features and optical properties of nanostructures constituted by a layer of Ce:YAG nanoparticles on glass wool (Ce:YAG@GW). The Ce:YAG@GW nanostructures were obtained embedding the glass wool (GW) in a gel-like precursor and calcining at 800 and 900 °C. Gel-like precursor of urea glass route (UGR) method has been used to prepare both nanostructures and Ce:YAG nanoparticles prepared as references. Structural properties were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Results showed that the composition of the final products strongly depends both on the cerium cont…