Investigations on luminescence behaviour of Ce‐activated BaMgAl10O17 phosphor

The present paper describes the synthesis of cerium‐doped barium magnesium aluminate phosphor by combustion method. The crystal structure of synthesized phosphor belongs to the P6₃/mmc space group and is related to the β‐alumina structure. The photoluminescence emission spectra exhibited a broad peak centered at 440 nm showing the Ce³⁺ emission. The thermoluminescence properties of phosphors under ultraviolet irradiation were investigated. The activation energy was calculated by Chen's empirical method. Fracto‐mechanoluminescence properties were also investigated. The phosphor showed mechanoluminescence (ML) properties without irradiation and the ML intensity increased linearly with the impact height of the moving piston. Therefore this compound may have a use as a damage sensor. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pure red upconverted and near-infrared luminescence properties of Er3+-doped SnO2 nanocrystals for lighting applications

Tin oxide (SnO₂) nanocrystalline powders doped with erbium ion (Er³⁺) in different molar ratios (0, 3, 5, and 7 mol%) were prepared using a solid-state reaction technique. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible absorption, visible upconversion, and near-infrared luminescence techniques. XRD analysis revealed the tetragonal rutile structure of SnO₂ and the average crystallite size was about 32 nm. From Tauc's plots, it was confirmed that the substitution of Er³⁺ ions into the SnO₂ host lattice resulted in the narrowing its band gap. Optical absorption bands at 520 and 654 nm correspond to the 4f electron transitions of Er³⁺ further confirming visible light absorption. Infrared luminescence spectra showed a broad band centred at 1536 nm which is assigned to the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺. Visible upconverted emission spectra under 980 nm excitation exhibit a strong red luminescence with a main peak at 672 nm which is attributed to the ⁴F_9/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺. Power-dependent upconversion spectra confirmed that two photons participated in the upconversion mechanism. Enhancement in the intensities of both visible and infrared luminescence was observed when raising the concentration. The results pave the way for the potential applications of these nanocrystalline powders in energy harvesting applications such as infrared light upconverting layer in solar cells, light emitting diodes, infrared broadband sources and amplifiers, and biological labelling.     

Dual substitution of host lattice ions to enhance the luminescence properties of Zn2TiO4:Cr3+ phosphor

Near-infrared light sources have potential applications in many fields. Cr³⁺ is a good luminescence centre to prepare near-infrared phosphors. Improving the performance of existing near-infrared luminescent materials has indeed attracted great interest from researchers. The luminescence properties of Zn₂TiO₄:Cr³⁺ were improved by crystal field engineering strategies. Zn²⁺–Ti⁴⁺ was partially replaced using a Li⁺–Nb⁵⁺ ion pair based on the Zn₂TiO₄:Cr³⁺ phosphors. Luminescence Cr³⁺-activated luminescent materials are sensitive to changes in the local crystal structure and crystal field environment. Doping of Li⁺–Nb⁵⁺ increased the luminescence intensity up to 2.7 times that of the undoped sample. Also, the thermal stability of the phosphor was greatly increased by the replacement of Li⁺–Nb⁵⁺.     

Enhancement of the photoluminescence and long afterglow properties of Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ phosphor by Dy3+ co‐doping

Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ and Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ long afterglow phosphors were synthesized under a weak reducing atmosphere by the traditional high temperature solid state reaction method. The synthesized phosphors were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), and photo‐, thermo‐ and mechanoluminescence spectroscopic techniques. The phase structure of the sintered phosphor was an akermanite type structure, which belongs to tetragonal crystallography. The thermoluminescence properties of these phosphors were investigated and compared. Under ultraviolet light excitation, the emission spectra of both prepared phosphors were composed of a broad emission band peaking at 470 nm. When the Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ phosphor was co‐doped with Dy³⁺, the photoluminescence (PL), afterglow and mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity were strongly enhanced. The decay graph indicated that both the sintered phosphors contained fast decay and slow decay processes. The ML intensities of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ and Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphors were increased proportionally with increasing impact velocity, a finding that suggests that these phosphors could be used as sensors to detect the stress of an object. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanoluminescence properties of SrAl2O4:Eu2+ phosphor by combustion synthesis

In this paper, europium‐doped strontium aluminate (SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺) phosphors were synthesized using a combustion method with urea as a fuel at 600°C. The phase structure, particle size, surface morphology and elemental analysis were studied using X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The EDX and FTIR spectra confirm the elements present in the SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ phosphor. The optical properties of SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and mechanoluminescence (ML). The excitation and emission spectra showed a broad band with peaks at 337 and 515 nm, respectively. The ML intensities of SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ phosphor increased proportionally with the increase in the height of the mechanical load, which suggests that this phosphor could be used in stress sensors. The CIE colour chromaticity diagram and ML spectra confirm that the SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ phosphor emitted green coloured light. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural characterization and optical properties of Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Dy3+ phosphor by solid‐state reaction method

Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphor was prepared by the solid‐state reaction method under a weak reducing atmosphere. The obtained phosphor was characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) techniques. The phase structure of the Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphor was akermanite type, which is a member of the melilite group. The surface morphology of the sintered phosphor was not uniform and phosphors aggregated tightly. EDX and FT‐IR spectra confirm the elements present in the Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphor. Under UV excitation, a broadband emission spectrum was found. The emission spectra observed in the green region centered at 535 nm, which is due to the 4f–5d transition. The mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity of the prepared phosphor increased linearly with increases in the mechanical load. The ML spectra were similar to the photoluminescence (PL), which indicates that ML is emitted from the same emitting center of Eu²⁺ ions as PL. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inkjet Printed Large Area Multifunctional Smart Windows

Multifunctional smart windows are successfully fabricated by assembling inkjet printed CeO₂/TiO₂ and WO₃/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrene sulfonate) films as the anode and cathode, respectively. Large optical modulation (more than 70% at 633 nm), fast switching (12.7/15.8 s), high coloration efficiency (108.9 cm² C^?1), and excellent bistability are achieved by the assembled smart windows. The multifunctional smart window not only can be used as typical electrochromic window, which can change its color to dynamically control the solar radiation transmittance through windows or protect privacy during the day, but also can be used as energy‐storage device simultaneously. The designed smart window releases the stored energy to light the bulbs and power other electronic devices at night while its color gradually reverts to transparent state. Moreover, the level of stored energy can be monitored via the visually detectable reversible color variation of the window. The fascinating multifunctional smart windows exhibit promising features for a wide range of applications in buildings, airplanes, automobiles, etc.     

Broadband near-infrared (NIR) emitting Cr3+-doped La3Ga5SnO14 phosphor with long persistent and photostimulated persistent luminescence

Recently, long persistent phosphors (LPPs) have attracted significant attention as promising candidates for biomedical applications. However, the serious decrease in luminescence intensity in tissue still remains a major challenge. Therefore, exploring more competitive LPPs and achieving reproducible tissue imaging is crucial. In this study, a new series of near-infrared (NIR) phosphors La₃Ga₅Sn_1-xO₁₄:xCr³⁺ (x = 0.005–0.05) were synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, diffuse/photoluminescence spectroscopy, fluorescence decay curves, and thermoluminescence spectroscopy. Upon excitation with ultraviolet light, strong emission bands were observed in the range 600–1200 nm with an optimal doping concentration of x = 0.02 mol. Moreover, La₃Ga₅SnO₁₄:Cr³⁺ exhibits persistent luminescence due to the presence of suitable energy traps, which prompted the phosphor to emit NIR light even after the removal of the excitation source.     

Understanding and Improving Mechanical Stability in Electrodeposited Cu and Bi for Dynamic Windows Based on Reversible Metal Electrodeposition

Dynamic windows based on reversible metal electrodeposition (RME) can electronically adjust light transmission from ≈70% to <0.1% to improve building aesthetics and energy efficiency by controlling light and heat flow. For RME devices using Cu and Bi, the windows reach “privacy state” (<0.1% transmission) when ≈180 nm of metal is electrodeposited on the transparent conducting electrode. When films with a plated atomic Cu–Bi ratio of ≈2:1 rest in the privacy state, sinusoidal cracks form across the entire film, and the metal delaminates in <1 day. This mechanical failure renders the window unusable as specks of metal are visually unattractive and reduce the dynamic range of the window. The Cu–Bi film is stress free upon deposition, but after 4 h of resting, 38 MPa of tensile stress develops. The tension in Cu–Bi and Cu films combined with the Cu(ClO₄)₂ in the electrolyte results in severe, widespread fractures and delamination due to stress corrosion cracking. In contrast, electrodeposited Bi films have compressive stress, likely due to high self-diffusion and insertion of atoms into grain boundaries while plating, which results in a Bi-based dynamic window with crack-free resting stability that exceeds 9 weeks.     

Studies on the luminescence properties of cerium co‐doping on Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ phosphor by solid‐state reaction method

Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Ce³⁺, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ and Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Ce³⁺ phosphors were prepared using the solid‐state reaction method. The crystal structures of the sintered phosphors were of melilite type, which has a tetragonal crystallography. The chemical compositions of the sintered phosphors was confirmed by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The different thermoluminescence kinetic parameters [activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and order of the kinetics (b)] of these phosphors were evaluated and compared using the peak shape method. Under ultraviolet excitation, the emission spectra of both Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ and Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Ce³⁺ phosphors were composed of a broad emission band peaking at 530 nm. When the Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ phosphor is co‐doped with Ce³⁺ ions, photoluminescence, afterglow and mechanoluminescence intensity was strongly enhanced. Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ showed some afterglow with a short persist time. On incorporation of Ce³⁺, efficient energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Eu²⁺ was found and the emission intensity of Eu²⁺ was enhanced. The mechanoluminescence intensities of Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Ce³⁺, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ and Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Ce³⁺ phosphors increased proportionally increased with the increase in impact velocity, which suggests that these phosphors can be used as sensors to detect stress in an object.     

White‐ and blue‐light‐emitting dysprosium(III) and terbium(III)‐doped gadolinium titanate phosphors

Here we report the synthesis and structural, morphological, and photoluminescence analysis of white‐ and blue‐light‐emitting Dy³⁺‐ and Tm³⁺‐doped Gd₂Ti₂O₇ nanophosphors. Single‐phase cubic Gd₂Ti₂O₇ nanopowders consist of compact, dense aggregates of nanoparticles with an average size of ~25 nm for Dy³⁺‐doped and ~50 nm for Tm³⁺‐doped samples. The photoluminescence results indicated that ultraviolet (UV) light excitation of the Dy³⁺‐doped sample resulted in direct generation of white light, while a dominant yellow emission was obtained under blue‐light excitation. Intense blue light was obtained for Tm³⁺‐doped Gd₂Ti₂O₇ under UV excitation suggesting that this material could be used as a blue phosphor.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of a novel bluish‐white afterglow phosphor,b‐Zn3(PO4)2:Hf4+

A new bluish‐white long‐lasting phosphorescent material, Hf⁴⁺‐doped b‐Zn₃(PO₄)₂, was prepared by the conventional high‐temperature solid‐state method. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum reveals that it exhibits a strong blue emission band centred at 470 nm, with asymmetry on the long wavelength side; this material emits bluish‐white light and shows strong afterglow phosphorescence after it is excited with a 254 nm UV lamp. The phosphorescence lasts nearly 40 min in the light perception of the dark‐adapted human eye (0.32 mcd/m²). The possible phosphorescence mechanism is also analysed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanoluminescence,thermoluminescence, photoluminescence studies on Ca3Y2Si3O12:RE3+ (RE3+ = Dy3+and Eu3+) phosphors

Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺ activated Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂ phosphors were synthesized by the solid‐state synthesis method. The phosphors were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), mechanoluminescence (ML), thermoluminescence (TL) and photoluminescence (PL) to determine structure and luminescence. For ML glow curves, only one peak was observed, as only one type of luminescence centre was formed during irradiation. The Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂:Dy³⁺ TL glow curve showed a single peak at 151.55°C and the Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ TL glow curve peaked at 323°C with a small peak at 192°C, indicating that two types of traps were activated. The trapping parameters for both the samples were calculated using Chen's peak shape method. Dy³⁺‐activated Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂ showed emission at 482 and 574 nm when excited by a 351 nm excitation wavelength, whereas the Eu³⁺‐activated Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂ phosphor PL emission spectra showed emission peaks at 613 nm, 591 nm, 580 nm when excited at 395 nm wavelength. When excited at 466 nm, prominent emission peaks were observed at their respective positions with very slight shifts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatigue‐Free and Bending‐Endurable Flexible Mn‐Doped Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3‐BaTiO3‐BiFeO3 Film Capacitor with an Ultrahigh Energy Storage Performance

As the rapid development of intelligent systems moves toward flexible electronics, capacitors with extraordinary flexibility and an outstanding energy storage performance will open up broad prospects for powering portable/wearable electronics and pulsed power applications. This work presents a simple one‐step process to fabricate a flexible Mn‐doped 0.97(0.93Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃‐0.07BaTiO₃)‐0.03BiFeO₃ (Mn:NBT‐BT‐BFO) inorganic thin film capacitor with the assistance of a 2D fluorophlogopite mica substrate. The film element, which has a high breakdown strength, great relaxor dispersion, and the coexistence of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases, has a high recoverable energy storage density (W_rec ≈81.9 J cm^?3), high efficiency (η ≈64.4%), superior frequency stability (500 Hz–20 kHz), excellent antifatigue property (1 × 10⁹ cycles), and a broad operating temperature window (25–200 °C). The all‐inorganic Mn:NBT‐BT‐BFO/Pt/mica capacitor has a prominent mechanical‐bending resistance without obvious deterioration in its corresponding energy storage capability when it is subjected to a bending radius of 2 mm or repeated bending for 10³ cycles. This work is the first demonstration of an all‐inorganic flexible film capacitor and sheds light on dielectric energy storage devices for portable/wearable applications.     

Tunable warm white light emission and energy transfer of Dy3+ co-doped Sr2LaZrO5.5:Eu3+ phosphors

Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺ co-doped Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-based phosphors were prepared through a sol–gel method. Through characterization, it was found that the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-based fluorescent powder co-doped with Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ had a cubic structure. At an excitation wavelength of 290 nm, the substrate Sr₂LaZrO_5.5 exhibited strong blue emission at 468 nm, and the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:18%Eu³⁺ phosphor exhibited a strong red emission peak at 612 nm. When the doping amount of Dy³⁺ was 5, 8, 12, 15, or 18%, the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:18%Eu³⁺ phosphor changed from an orange-red light, to a warm white light, and to a cold white light. According to the emission spectra, the emission intensities of the substrates Sr₂LaZrO_5.5 and Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:Eu³⁺ decreased with increasing Dy³⁺ concentration, confirming the energy transfer between the host Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺, and resulting in a lower CCT value, with significantly improved white light emission.     

Ca2Al2SiO7:Ce3+ phosphors for mechanoluminescence dosimetry

A series of Ce³⁺ ion single‐doped Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ phosphors was synthesized by a combustion‐assisted method at an initiating temperature of 600 °C. The samples were annealed at 1100 °C for 3 h and their X‐ray diffraction patterns confirmed a tetragonal structure. The phase structure, particle size, surface morphology and elemental analysis were analyzed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy techniques. Thermoluminescence (TL) intensity increased with increase in ultraviolet (UV) light exposure time up to 15 min. With further increase in the UV irradiation time the TL intensity decreases. The increase in TL intensity indicates that trap concentration increased with UV exposure time. A broad peak at 121 °C suggested the existence of a trapping level. The peak of mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity versus time curve increased linearly with increasing impact velocity of the moving piston. Mechanoluminescence intensity increased with increase in UV irradiation time up to 15 min. Under UV‐irradiation excitation, the TL and ML emission spectra of Ca₂Al₂SiO₇:Ce³⁺ phosphor showed the characteristic emission of Ce³⁺ peaking at 400 nm (UV–violet) and originating from the Ce³⁺ transitions of 5d‐4f (²F_5/2 and ²F_7/2). The photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra for Ca₂Al₂SiO₇:Ce³⁺ were similar to the ML/TL emission spectra. The mechanism of ML excitation and the suitability of the Ca₂Al₂SiO₇:Ce³⁺phosphor for radiation dosimetry are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Luminescence behavior of Li2Sr1‐3x/2EuxSiO4 red phosphors for LED applications

Red‐emitting Li₂Sr_1‐3x/2Eu_xSiO₄ 0≤x≤0.5) phosphors were synthesized at 900°C in air by a solid‐state reaction. The synthesized phosphors were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, photoluminescence (PL) excitation (PLE) and PL spectra. The results from the PLE spectra suggest that the strong 394 nm excitation peak associated with the ⁵L₆ state of Eu³⁺ ions is of significance for near ultraviolet pumped white light‐emitting diodes and solid‐state lighting. It is also noted that the position of the charge transfer state of Eu³⁺ ions shifts towards the higher energy side (blue shift) by increasing the content of Eu³⁺ ions. The predominant emissions of Eu³⁺ ions under 394 nm excitation are observed at 580, 593, 614, 656 and 708 nm, which are attributed to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4), respectively. The PL results reveal that the optimal content of the red‐emitting Li₂Sr_1‐3x/2Eu_xSiO₄ phosphors is x = 0.475. Simulation of the white light excited by 394 nm near ultraviolet light has also been carried out for its potential white light‐emitting diode applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurement of rate constants for quenching singlet oxygen with a Cypridina luciferin analog (2-methyl-6-[p-methoxyphenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one) and sodium azide

The rate constants for [¹O₂] [MCLA] and [¹O₂][NaN₃] were measured by quenching the near-infrared emission (¹Δ_g→³∑_g) in steady state with MCLA and NaN₃, respectively. ¹O₂ was constantly generated by energy transfer to O₂ from Ar laser-excited Rose Bengal. The Stern—Volmer plots yielded the second-order rate constants of 2.94 × 10⁹ M^?1 S^?1 and 3.83 × 10⁸ M^?1 S^?1 for quenching ¹O₂ with MCLA and NaN₃ in water at pH 5.4, respectively. The ¹O₂ + MCLA reaction emitted light with maximum at 465 nm at pD 4.5 identical to the O₂^? + MCLA reaction.     

Wood Composite as an Energy Efficient Building Material: Guided Sunlight Transmittance and Effective Thermal Insulation

Among many other requirements, energy efficient building materials require effective daylight harvesting and thermal insulation to reduce electricity usage and weatherization cost. The most commonly used daylight harvesting material, glass, has limited light management capability and poor thermal insulation. For the first time, transparent wood is introduced as a building material with the following advantages compared with glass: (1) high optical transparency over the visible wavelength range (>85%); (2) broadband optical haze (>95%), which can create a uniform and consistent daylight distribution over the day without glare effect; (3) unique light guiding effect with a large forward to back scattering ratio of 9 for a 0.5 cm thick transparent wood; (4) excellent thermal insulation with a thermal conductivity around 0.32 W m^?1 K^?1 along the wood growth direction and 0.15 W m^?1 K^?1 in the cross plane, much lower than that of glass (≈1 W m^?1 K^?1); (5) high impact energy absorption that eliminates the safety issues often presented by glass; and (6) simple, scalable fabrication with reliable performance. The demonstrated transparent wood composite exhibits great promise as a future building material, especially as a replacement of glass toward energy efficient building with sustainable materials.     

Novel Sub‐5 nm Layered Niobium Phosphate Nanosheets for High‐Voltage,Cation‐Intercalation Typed Electrochemical Energy Storage in Wearable Pseudocapacitors

Layered niobium phosphates have been considered very promising energy storage materials because of their high theoretical operating voltage window and the rich oxidation states of niobium. However, their development has been stymied by the phase‐controlled synthesis due to the insolubility of niobium sources except in concentrated hydrofluoric (HF) acid systems. Herein, a new avenue is opened for layered acid niobium phosphate (2NbOPO₄·H₃PO₄·H₂O) synthesis in a mild oxalic acid system. Taking advantage of this strategy, in situ growth of sub‐5 nm 2NbOPO₄·H₃PO₄·H₂O nanosheet (NPene) arrays on conductive carbon fiber cloth (CFC) substrates is achieved as self‐standing electrodes for solid‐state supercapacitors. Interestingly, the NPene@CFC electrode exhibits a typical cation (H⁺ or Li⁺)‐intercalation kinetics with a wide potential window of 0–1.0 V in aqueous electrolytes. Given the wide potential window and highly exposed active surface, the solid‐state asymmetric supercapacitors constructed from such a NPenes@CFC electrode display a high working potential of 2.0 V, energy density of 122.2 W h kg^?1 at a power density of 589.7 W kg^?1, cycle stability with a capacitance retention of 94.2% after 10 000 cycles, and also outstanding flexible and wearable characteristics.