Quantum dot-based thermal spectroscopy and imaging of optically trapped microspheres and single cells

Laser-induced thermal effects in optically trapped microspheres and single cells are investigated by quantum dot luminescence thermometry. Thermal spectroscopy has revealed a non-localized temperature distribution around the trap that extends over tens of micrometers, in agreement with previous theoretical models besides identifying water absorption as the most important heating source. The experimental results of thermal loading at a variety of wavelengths reveal that an optimum trapping wavelength exists for biological applications close to 820 nm. This is corroborated by a simultaneous analysis of the spectral dependence of cellular heating and damage in human lymphocytes during optical trapping. This quantum dot luminescence thermometry demonstrates that optical trapping with 820 nm laser radiation produces minimum intracellular heating, well below the cytotoxic level (43 °C), thus, avoiding cell damage.

Analysis of vacuum ultraviolet electronic spectra of Ce3+ and Pr3+ ions in Ca9Lu(PO4)7: crystal-field calculations and simulation of optical spectra

The 4f-5d excitation and emission spectra of Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) ions in Ca9Lu(PO4)7 as recently reported (2012 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 24 385502) were further analyzed and simulated by employing the effective Hamiltonian model for the 4f(N) and 4f(N-1)5d electronic configurations of impurity lanthanide ions and the exchange charge model of crystal-field theory. The multi-site effect on the 4f-5d transition spectra was explicitly discussed from the points of view of the local structure and site occupation ratios of lanthanide ions in Ca9Lu(PO4)7. An excellent agreement between the predicted and measured spectra confirms the validity of the performed calculations. Based on these energy level and intensity calculation results, the radiative lifetimes of the 5d-4f emissions of Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) ions have been modeled to show nearly independent temperature trends. Comparison with the measured lifetimes suggests the nonradiative relaxation process in this host is probably related to the intrinsic defect states. In addition to the studies of the 4f-5d transitions, a general theoretical scheme to calculate the lowest 4f-6s transition energy of the Ce(3+) ion was proposed for the first time on the basis of the ligand polarization model. The predicted 6s energy position of the Ce(3+) ion in Ca9Lu(PO4)7 is solid evidence corroborating our previous spectroscopic assignment.

High pressure luminescence spectra of CaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Pr, Tb)

Photoluminescence spectra and luminescence kinetics of pure CaMoO(4) and CaMoO(4) doped with Ln(3+) (Ln = Pr or Tb) are presented. The spectra were obtained at high hydrostatic pressure up to 240 kbar applied in a diamond anvil cell. At ambient pressure undoped and doped samples exhibit a broad band emission extending between 380 and 700 nm with a maximum at 520 nm attributed to the MoO(4)(2-) luminescence. CaMoO(4) doped with Pr(3+) or Tb(3+) additionally yields narrow emission lines related to f-f transitions. The undoped CaMoO(4) crystal was characterized by a strong MoO(4)(2-) emission up to 240 kbar. In the cases of CaMoO(4):Pr(3+) and CaMoO(4):Tb(3+), high hydrostatic pressure caused quenching of Pr(3+) and Tb(3+) emission, and this effect was accompanied by a strong shortening of the luminescence lifetime. In doped samples, CaMoO(4):Pr(3+) and CaMoO(4):Tb(3+), quenching of the emission band attributed to MoO(4)(2-) was also observed, and at pressure above 130 kbar this luminescence was totally quenched. The effects mentioned above were related to the influence of the praseodymium (terbium) trapped exciton PTE (ITE-impurity trapped exciton) on the efficiency of the Pr(3+) (Tb(3+)) and MoO(4)(2-) emissions.

PEG-capped, lanthanide doped GdF3 nanoparticles: luminescent and T2 contrast agents for optical and MRI multimodal imaging

A facile method for the synthesis of water dispersible Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) doped upconverting GdF(3) nanoparticles is reported. Strong upconversion emissions are observed in the red (for Er/Yb doped) and near-infrared (for Tm/Yb doped) regions upon laser excitation at 980 nm. The PEG coating ensures a good dispersion of the system in water and reduces the radiationless de-excitation of the excited states of the Er(3+) and Tm(3+) ions by water molecules. The r(2) relaxivity values are quite high with respect to the common T(2)-relaxing agents (22.6 ± 3.4 mM(-1) s(-1) and 15.8 ± 3.4 mM(-1) s(-1) for the Tm/Yb and Er/Yb doped samples, respectively), suggesting that the present NPs can be interesting as T(2) weighted contrast agents for proton MRI purpose. Preliminary experiments conducted in vitro, in stem cell cultures, and in vivo, after subcutaneous injection of the lanthanide-doped GdF(3) NPs, indicate scarce toxic effects. After an intravenous injection in mice, the GdF(3) NPs localize mainly in the liver. The present results indicate that the present Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) doped GdF(3) NPs are suitable candidates to be efficiently used as bimodal probes for both in vitro and in vivo optical and magnetic resonance imaging.

Interconfigurational 5d → 4f luminescence of Ce3+ and Pr3+ in Ca9Lu(PO4)7

Ca(9)Lu(PO(4))(7):Ce (3+) and Ca (9)Lu (PO (4))(7):Pr (3+) polycrystalline materials were synthesized by solid state reaction at high temperature. The materials were characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (XRPD). The luminescence spectroscopy and the excited state dynamics of these compounds were investigated upon excitation with UV/VUV synchrotron radiation. Both materials showed efficient and fast 5d-4f emission upon direct VUV excitation into the 5d levels but only Ca(9)Lu(PO(4))(7):Ce (3+) revealed luminescence upon excitation across the bandgap. The decay kinetics of the 5d-4f emission upon VUV intra-center excitation is characterized by a decay time of 29 ns for Ce (3+) and 17 ns for Pr (3+) with no significant build-up after the excitation pulse. For the both compounds, no significant temperature dependence of the 5d-4f emission lifetime was observed within the range 8-300 K.

High pressure luminescence spectra of CaMoO4:Pr3+

Steady state and time resolved luminescence measurements of CaMoO(4) doped with Pr(3+) as a function of hydrostatic pressure in the 1-175 kbar range are presented. It has been observed that with increasing pressure the spectral features shift towards lower energies, the decay times of both (3)P(0) and (1)D(2) emitting levels become shorter and the intensity of the (3)P(0) emission decreases to complete quenching at about 110 kbar, whereas that of the (1)D(2) emission increases in the 0-100 kbar range and then rapidly decreases when the pressure exceeds 127 kbar. A variation of the structure of the spectral manifolds indicates that a pressure induced phase transition of the host lattice occurs in the 80-100 kbar range. The quenching of the luminescence and the shortening of the decay times have been accounted for by means of a model that takes into account the role played by a praseodymium trapped exciton in the excited state dynamics of the investigated material.

Hyperfine structure of Ho3+ levels and electron-phonon coupling in YPO4 single crystals

High resolution spectroscopy (the finest being 0.01 cm(-1)) was applied in the 75-25,000 cm(-1) and 9-300 K ranges to a 1 mol% holmium doped Y PO(4) single crystal with two purposes: (1) to study the hyperfine splitting of Ho(3+) energy levels of interest for possible quantum manipulation media and (2) to analyze the electron-phonon interaction. The hyperfine structure was clearly revealed for a high number of lines in a wide wavenumber range (up to ~21,500 cm(-1)) and for a large number of multiplets. Several hyperfine patterns were monitored, differing in the number of components (a maximum of 16 could be easily distinguished in a single beautiful pattern), in their separation, and in their relative statistical weight. These features were all understood in terms of a crystal-field model, whose results are in good agreement with experiments and account for the involved level symmetry, the type of transitions (electric and magnetic dipole allowed), and the contribution of a second-order (pseudoquadrupolar) hyperfine coupling between close levels. The electron-phonon interaction, investigated through the thermally induced line shift, was critically discussed in the framework of single phonon coupling and of two phonon Raman scattering models.

First measurement of chiral dynamics in π- γ → π- π- π+

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the π- γ → π- π- π+ reaction at center-of-momentum energy below five pion masses, sqrt[s]<5m(π), embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions impinging on a lead target. Exchange of quasireal photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at smallest momentum transfers, t'<0.001  GeV2/c2. Using partial-wave analysis techniques, the scattering intensity of Coulomb production described in terms of chiral dynamics and its dependence on the 3π-invariant mass m(3π)=sqrt[s] were extracted. The absolute cross section was determined in seven bins of sqrt[s] with an overall precision of 20%. At leading order, the result is found to be in good agreement with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory over the whole energy range investigated.

NIR-to-NIR two-photon excited CaF2:Tm3+,Yb3+ nanoparticles: multifunctional nanoprobes for highly penetrating fluorescence bio-imaging

In this study, we report on the remarkable two-photon excited fluorescence efficiency in the "biological window" of CaF(2):Tm(3+),Yb(3+) nanoparticles. On the basis of the strong Tm(3+) ion emission (at around 800 nm), tissue penetration depths as large as 2 mm have been demonstrated, which are more than 4 times those achievable based on the visible emissions in comparable CaF(2):Er(3+),Yb(3+) nanoparticles. The outstanding penetration depth, together with the fluorescence thermal sensitivity demonstrated here, makes CaF(2):Tm(3+),Yb(3+) nanoparticles ideal candidates as multifunctional nanoprobes for high contrast and highly penetrating in vivo fluorescence imaging applications.

Random lasing in Nd:LuVO4 crystal powder

Room temperature random lasing action is demonstrated for the first time in a low concentrated neodymium doped vanadate crystal powder. Laser threshold and emission efficiency are comparable to the ones obtained in stoichiometric borate crystal powders. The present investigation provides a complete picture of the random lasing characteristics of Nd-doped vanadate powder both in the spectral and temporal domain, together with a simplified model which accounts for the most relevant features of the random laser.

Temperature and pressure dependence of the optical properties of Cr3+-doped Gd3Ga5O12 nanoparticles

Since the crystal-field strength at the Cr(3+) site is very close to the excited-state crossover (ESCO), this work investigates the optical properties of Cr(3+)-doped Gd(3)Ga(5)O(12) (GGG) nanoparticles as a function of temperature and pressure in order to establish the effect of the ESCO on the optical behaviour of nanocrystalline GGG. Luminescence, time-resolved emission and lifetime measurements have been performed on GGG:0.5% Cr(3+) nanoparticles in the 25-300 K temperature range, as well as under hydrostatic pressure up to 20 GPa. We show how low temperature and high pressure progressively transforms Cr(3+)(4)T(2) --> (4)A(2) broadband emission into a ruby-like (2)E --> (4)A(2) luminescence. This behaviour together with the lifetime dependence on pressure and temperature are explained on the basis of the spin-orbit interaction between the (4)T(2) and (2)E states of Cr(3+).

Lanthanide doped upconverting colloidal CaF2 nanoparticles prepared by a single-step hydrothermal method: toward efficient materials with near infrared-to-near infrared upconversion emission

Colloidal Er(3+)/Yb(3+), Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) and Ho(3+)/Yb(3+) doped CaF(2) nanoparticles have been prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal procedure and their upconversion properties have been investigated.

Eu3+-Doped Y2O3-SiO2 Nanocomposite Obtained by a Sol-Gel Method

A Y2O3-SiO2 nanocomposite doped with Eu3+ was obtained by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR, 29Si NMR and laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy. It was found that small (2-3 nm) yttria nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in, and interacting with, the amorphous silica matrix. Luminescence spectroscopy indicates that the Eu3+ ion is preferentially located inside or at the surface of highly disordered Y2O3 nanoparticles. These luminescent nanocomposites form a class of materials which could find applications in the field of phosphors.

Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent ZnO Powders Produced by Thermally-Induced Doping

A low cost and efficient method of doping pure zinc oxide powders for luminescence applications is presented. The powders have been obtained from pure, non-luminescent ZnO by thermally induced doping under a nitrogen flux and in the presence of ZnS powders. Structural characterization has been carried out by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), while luminescence properties have been studied with both a spectrofluorimeter and microraman spectrometer. Emission spectra have shown an increase of the luminescence with treatment temperature. The XRD patterns of all samples showed, along with reflections of the hexagonal phase of ZnO, other reflections ascribed to the hexagonal phase of ZnS. Upon further annealing in air at 800°C, the ZnS reflections disappear even though the luminescence still persists with a comparable intensity. Luminescence is ascribed to ZnO reduction due to the interaction of S with ZnO. It has also been observed that excitation with a He-Ne laser beam (λ=633 nm) with a high specific power (5×10−3 W·µm−2) yielded blue-green luminescence in spite of excitation below the band-to-band absorption threshold.

Luminescence and decay properties of the 1D2 level of Pr3+-doped YPO4

This investigation reports on the spectroscopic properties of trivalent Pr in YPO4. In particular, we show how the luminescence from the 1D2 level depends on the polarization of the emission and on the temperature of the sample. We also report on the decay kinetics of the 1D2 level, which show the lifetime decreasing as temperature is increased. Our observed lifetime of 440 µs is at low temperature and is significantly longer than that reported by other workers. We explain the temperature dependence of the 1D2 emission by considering the population redistribution in the 1D2 level, without invoking the existence of multiphonon relaxation. Finally, we estimate the radiative decay rates of individual crystal field levels within the 1D2 manifold.

Observation of a J(PC)=1-+ exotic resonance in diffractive dissociation of 190 GeV/c π- into π- π- π+

The COMPASS experiment at the CERN SPS has studied the diffractive dissociation of negative pions into the π- π- π+ final state using a 190  GeV/c pion beam hitting a lead target. A partial wave analysis has been performed on a sample of 420,000 events taken at values of the squared 4-momentum transfer t' between 0.1 and 1  GeV2/c2. The well-known resonances a1(1260), a2(1320), and π2(1670) are clearly observed. In addition, the data show a significant natural-parity exchange production of a resonance with spin-exotic quantum numbers J(PC)=1-+ at 1.66  GeV/c2 decaying to ρπ. The resonant nature of this wave is evident from the mass-dependent phase differences to the J(PC)=2-+ and 1++ waves. From a mass-dependent fit a resonance mass of (1660±10(-64)(+0))  MeV/c2 and a width of (269±21(-64)(+42))  MeV/c2 are deduced, with an intensity of (1.7±0.2)% of the total intensity.

Spectroscopy of f-f radiative transitions of Y b(³+) ions in ytterbium doped orthophosphates at ambient and high hydrostatic pressures

Studies of absorption and luminescence spectra, and luminescence decay times of the intrashell f-f transitions of Y b(³+) ions in bulk orthophosphates at different temperatures and at high hydrostatic pressures are presented. The spectroscopic properties of Y₀.₉₉Y b₀.₀₁PO₄ crystal with a tetragonal zircon structure and Gd₀.₉₉Y b₀.₀₁PO₄ and La₀.₉₅Y b₀.₀₅PO₄ crystals with a monoclinic monazite structure are compared. Experiments at ambient pressure were performed at temperatures from 10 to 295 K whereas measurements at high pressure were performed in a diamond-anvil cell at 10 K with a pressure up to 160 kbar. The results reveal a high thermal and pressure stability of the optical properties of the examined crystals as well as the dependence of Y b(³+) emission properties on the local symmetry of the site occupied by the ytterbium dopant.

Optical transition probabilities in Er3+- and Tm3+-doped LiLa9(SiO4)6O2 crystals

In this work, Er(3+) and Tm(3+)-doped LiLa(9)(SiO(4))(6)O(2) crystals have been grown from an Li(2)MoO(4) flux in the 1360-940 °C temperature range. Optical absorption spectra have been measured to obtain the experimental oscillator strengths of the transitions from the ground state to the excited levels. Judd-Ofelt calculations have been performed to estimate the Ω(2), Ω(4) and Ω(6) intensity parameters. The dynamics of selected Er(3+) and Tm(3+) manifolds have been investigated under selective pulsed excitation in order to determine the energy gap law by comparing the observed decay rates with the Judd-Ofelt predictions.

Nanocrystalline lanthanide-doped Lu3Ga5O12 garnets: interesting materials for light-emitting devices

Nanocrystalline Lu(3)Ga(5)O(12), with average particle sizes of 40 nm, doped with a wide variety of luminescent trivalent lanthanide ions have been prepared using a sol-gel technique. The structural and morphological properties of the powders have been investigated by x-ray powder diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Structural data have been refined and are presented for Pr(3+), Eu(3+), Gd(3+), Ho(3+), Er(3+) and Tm(3+) dopants, while room temperature excited luminescence spectra and emission decay curves of Eu(3+)-, Tm(3+)- and Ho(3+)-doped Lu(3)Ga(5)O(12) nanocrystals have been measured and are discussed. The Eu(3+) emission spectrum shows typical bands due to 5D(0)-->7F(J) (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions and the broadening of these emission bands with the non-exponential behaviour of the decay curves indicates the presence of structural disorder around the lanthanide ions. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystalline Lu(3)Ga(5)O(12) materials show better luminescence intensities compared to Y(2)O(3), Gd(3)Ga(5)O(12) and Y(3)Al(5)O(12) nanocrystalline hosts. Moreover, the upconversion emission intensity in the blue-green region for the Tm(3+)- and Ho(3+)-doped samples shows a significant increase upon 647.5 nm excitation with respect to other common oxide hosts doped with the same lanthanide ions.

The f-f emission of Pr3+ ion as an optical probe for the structural properties of YAG nanoceramics

Transparent Pr-doped YAG nanoceramics composed of grains with an average size of about 42 nm, were fabricated with the Low Temperature High Pressure (LTHP) sintering technique using the corresponding nanopowders as the starting materials. The structure of the nanoceramics was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of the sintering conditions on the structural properties is discussed on the basis of the changes of the spectroscopic properties of Pr3+ ions. In particular, the intensities and decays of the emission transitions originating from the (3)P0 and (1)D2 levels are investigated and correlated with structural properties of the material, such as microstrains produced by the high-pressure process.

Determination of rare earth elements in tomato plants by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques

In recent years identification of the geographical origin of food has grown more important as consumers have become interested in knowing the provenance of the food that they purchase and eat. Certification schemes and labels have thus been developed to protect consumers and genuine producers from the improper use of popular brand names or renowned geographical origins. As the tomato is one of the major components of what is considered to be the healthy Mediterranean diet, it is important to be able to determine the geographical origin of tomatoes and tomato-based products such as tomato sauce. The aim of this work is to develop an analytical method to determine rare earth elements (RRE) for the control of the geographic origin of tomatoes. The content of REE in tomato plant samples collected from an agricultural area in Piacenza, Italy, was determined, using four different digestion procedures with and without HF. Microwave dissolution with HNO3 + H2O2 proved to be the most suitable digestion procedure. Inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICPQMS) and inductively coupled plasma sector field plasma mass spectrometry (ICPSFMS) instruments, both coupled with a desolvation system, were used to determine the REE in tomato plants in two different laboratories. A matched calibration curve method was used for the quantification of the analytes. The detection limits (MDLs) of the method ranged from 0.03 ng g(-1) for Ho, Tm, and Lu to 2 ng g(-1) for La and Ce. The precision, in terms of relative standard deviation on six replicates, was good, with values ranging, on average, from 6.0% for LREE (light rare earth elements) to 16.5% for HREE (heavy rare earth elements). These detection limits allowed the determination of the very low concentrations of REE present in tomato berries. For the concentrations of REE in tomato plants, the following trend was observed: roots > leaves > stems > berries.

The atomic structure of niobium and tantalum containing borophosphate glasses

A complete structural study has been carried out on sodium borophosphate glass containing increasing amounts of either niobium or tantalum. A combination of high energy x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy has been used to discern the local atomic structure of each component and the changes with M content, where M is either niobium or tantalum. The glasses are found to consist of tetrahedral borate and phosphate with octahedral MO(6). As expected, B and P play the roles of tetrahedral network formers. At low M content there are isolated MO(6) units with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] linkages that contribute to the glass network. As the M content increases, the number of [Formula: see text] links increases, and at the highest M content each MO(6) unit is connected to several others. The octahedra become significantly distorted as the niobium content increases, an effect that is not seen for tantalum.

Lanthanide 4f-level location in AVO(4):Ln(3+) (A = La, Gd, Lu) crystals

The spectral properties of LaVO(4), GdVO(4) and LuVO(4) crystals doped with Ce(3+), Pr(3+), Eu(3+) or Tb(3+) have been investigated in order to determine the position of the energy levels relative to the valence and conduction bands of the hosts along the trivalent and divalent lanthanide series. Pr(3+) and Tb(3+) ground state levels are positioned based on the electron transfer energy from those states to the conduction band, the so-called intervalence charge transfer (IVCT). This approach is compared with an alternative model that is based on electron transfer from the valence band to a lanthanide.

High pressure evolution of YVO(4):Pr(3+) luminescence

Photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra of YVO(4) doped with Pr(3+) obtained at high hydrostatic pressure up to 76 kbar applied in a diamond anvil cell are presented. At pressures lower than 60 kbar the steady state emission spectra consist of sharp lines related to the [Formula: see text] transition in Pr(3+). At pressures above 68 kbar the Pr(3+) emission intensity decreases and the corresponding bands are replaced by a broad band peaking at 19 500 cm(-1) attributed to perturbed VO(4)(3-) host luminescence. The quenching of the [Formula: see text] emission has been attributed to nonradiative transition to the charge transfer exciton trapped at Pr(3+) ion. The recovering of the VO(4)(3-) host luminescence at high pressure has been attributed to energy transfer from a Pr(3+) trapped exciton (PTE) to the host YVO(4). The kinetics of such a process is analyzed using the model of PTE considered as a Pr(4+) + electron bound by the Coulomb potential at the delocalized Rydberg states.

Reference values of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid: Italian Multicentric Study

This article reports the results of a study, conducted in the framework of the scientific activities of the Italian Society for Reference Values, aimed at defining reference values of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in the general population not occupationally exposed to benzene. t,t-MA concentrations detected in 376 subjects of the resident population in three areas of Italy, two in central (Florence and southern Tuscany) and one in northern Italy (Padua), by three laboratories, compared by repeated interlaboratory controls, showed an interval of 14.4-225.0 microg/L (5th-95th percentile) and a geometric mean of 52.5 microg/L. The concentrations measured were influenced by tobacco smoking in a statistically significant way: Geometric mean concentrations were 44.8 microg/L and 76.1 microg/Ll in nonsmokers (264 subjects) and smokers (112 subjects), respectively. In the nonsmoking population, a significant influence of gender was found when concentrations were corrected for urinary creatinine, geometric mean concentrations being 36.7 microg/g creatinine in males (128 subjects) and 44.7 microg/g creatinine in females (136 subjects). The place of residence of subjects did not seem to influence urinary excretion of the metabolite, although personal inhalation exposure to benzene over a 24-h period showed slightly higher concentrations in Padua and Florence (geometric means of 6.5 microg/m(3) and 6.6 microg/m(3), respectively) than in southern Tuscany (geometric mean of 3.9 microg/m(3)). Concentration of t,t-MA in urine samples collected at the end of personal air sampling showed little relationship to personal inhalation exposure to benzene, confirming the importance of other factors in determining excretion of t,t-MA when concentrations in personal air samples are very low.

Incorporation of trivalent cations in synthetic garnets A3B5O12 (A = Y, Lu-La, B = Al, Fe, Ga)

Static-lattice atomistic calculations have been used to study the solution energy for the incorporation of 13 foreign cations at 3 different lattice positions of 12 synthetic garnets. Trends have been obtained as a function of the ionic radius of the dopant cation, and the predictions about site preference have been compared with both literature and experimental data. The preferred substitution site is mainly determined by the ionic size and has been correctly predicted in all cases. Moreover, the energy difference between the preferred substitution site and the next favored site is relatively small in several cases, and hence the foreign ions can be inserted at two different positions by using the correct stoichiometry. A remarkably different behavior has been encountered for Al garnets, due to the smaller size of the unit cell. In particular, some cations, such as Fe3+ and Ga3+, can be inserted at the dodecahedral position usually occupied by the rare-earth ion. Despite the limitations of the static-lattice approach, the results of the present simulations help in the understanding of the defect chemistry of garnets, which is strongly responsible for the physicochemical properties (such as luminescence and ferrimagnetism) that make garnets interesting for technological applications. Such results lead to the possibility of tuning the optical and luminescence properties of garnets by the formation of different types of solid solutions.

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 doped with boron and vanadium

Boron (B)- and vanadium (V)-doped TiO(2) photocatalysts were synthesized using modified sol-gel reaction processes and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and N(2) physisorption (BET). The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results showed that the materials possess high surface area. The addition of B favored the transformation of anatase to rutile, while in the presence of V, anatase was the only phase detected. The MB degradation on V-doped TiO(2) was significantly affected by the preparation method. In fact while the presence of V in the bulk did not influence strongly the photoreactivity under visible irradiation, an increase of surface V doping lead to improved photodegradation of MB. The degradation of MB dye indicated that the photocatalytic activities of TiO(2) increased as the boron doping increased, with high conversion efficiency for 9mol% B doping.

Fluorescence properties of Nd3+-doped tellurite glasses

The compositional and concentration dependence of luminescence of the (4)F(3/2)-->(4)I(J) (J=13/2, 11/2 and 9/2) transitions in four Nd(3+)-doped tellurite based glasses has been studied. The free-ion energy levels obtained for 60TeO(2)+39ZnO(2)+1.0Nd(2)O(3) (TZN10) glass have been analysed using the free-ion Hamiltonian model and compared with similar results obtained for Nd(3+):glass systems. The absorption spectrum of TZN10 glass has been analysed using the Judd-Ofelt theory. Relatively longer decay rates have been obtained for Nd(3+)-doped phosphotellurite glasses. The emission characteristics of the (4)F(3/2)-->(4)I(11/2) transition, of the Nd(3+):TZN10 glass, are found to be comparable to those obtained for Nd(3+):phosphate laser glasses. The non-exponential shape of the emission decay curves for the (4)F(3/2)-->(4)I(11/2) transition is attributed to the presence of energy transfer processes between the Nd(3+) ions.

A spectroscopic analysis of blue and ultraviolet upconverted emissions from Gd3Ga5O12:Tm3+, Yb3+ nanocrystals

The spectroscopic behavior of gadolinium gallium garnet (Gd3Ga5O12, GGG) nanocrystals codoped with 1% each of Tm3+ and Yb3+ prepared via a solution combustion synthesis procedure was investigated. Initial excitation of the codoped nanocrystals with 465.8 nm (into the 1G4 state) showed a dominant blue-green emission ascribed to the 1G4-3H6 transition as well as red and NIR emissions from the 1G4-3F4 and 1G4-3H5/3H4-3H6 transitions, respectively. Excitation at this wavelength (465.8 nm) showed the existence of a Tm3+ --> Yb3+ energy transfer process evidenced by the presence of the 2F5/2-2F7/2 Yb3+ emission in the NIR emission spectrum. The decay time constants proved that the transfer of energy occurred via the 3H4 state. Following excitation of the Yb3+ ion with 980 nm, intense upconverted emission was observed. Emissions in the UV (1D2-3H6), blue (1D2-3F4), blue-green (1G4-3H6), red (1G4-3F4), and NIR (1G4-3H5/3H4-3H6) were observed and were the direct result of subsequent transfers of energy from the Yb3+ ion to the Tm3+ ion. Power dependence studies showed a deviation from expected values for the number of photons involved in the upconversion thus indicating a saturation of the upconversion process. An energy transfer efficiency of 0.576 was determined experimentally.

Effects of neodymium incorporation on the structural and luminescence properties of the YAl(3)(BO(3))(4)-NdAl(3)(BO(3))(4) system

The luminescence of Nd(3+) ions in Nd(x)Y(1-x)Al(3)(BO(3))(4) (Nd:YAB) single crystals has been investigated as a function of the neodymium concentration in order to evidence the relation between the structural and spectroscopic properties in this nonlinear laser system. The analysis of the experimental data allowed us to individuate four different composition ranges. For moderate concentrations (x<0.2) the lattice parameters are nearly constant, and the emission spectra arise from Nd(3+) ions in unperturbed crystal sites. For concentrations in the 0.2<x<0.75 range the lattice parameters notably depend on the neodymium content, and a concomitant variation of the luminescence features is observed. In the 0.75<x<0.9 range a hexagonal to monoclinic phase transition takes place: the structural disorder is evidenced well by the broadening of the emission lines and by discontinuities in the concentration behaviour of other indicators such as the crystal-field strength, energy transfer parameters, etc. Finally, for x>0.9 the final formation of the NdAl(3)(BO(3))(4) (NAB) monoclinic phase is complete, and a new local ordering around Nd(3+) is very evident in the spectral features.

[Cr3O(CH3COO)6(H2O)3]NO3⋅HNO3⋅H2O, Triaqua-Hexakis(Μ- Acetato)-Μ3-Oxo-Trichromium(III) Nitrate Nitric Acid Solvate Monohydrate

Reaction in methanol solution of the trinuclear ‘basic’ chromium(III) acetate with Pr(NO3)3⋅5H2O and further extraction by chloroform-acetone mixture led to the formation of novel unusual [Cr3O(CH3COO)6(H2O)3]NO3⋅HNO3⋅H2O (1) cluster with one “free” molecule of nitric acid. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with, at room temperature, a = 13.624(2), b = 15.032(2), c = 15.180(2) Å, β = 112.98(3) °, Z = 4, and V = 2862.09 Å3. The obtained crystalline compound has been synthesized and characterized by IR and UV/Vis methods.

Ferromagnetism on a paramagnetic host background: the case of rutile TM:TiO(2) single crystals (TM = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)

Single crystals of TiO(2) rutile doped with Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu were grown with the flux method in a Na(2)B(4)O(7) melt. The samples, checked in their structural and phase homogeneity by x-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, were single-phase needle-shaped crystals several millimetres long. Paramagnetic and ferromagnetic behaviours at room temperature were observed and they are discussed also in connection with the magnetic properties of undoped TiO(2) crystals.