Eu-Doped Pyrochlore Crystal Nano-Powders as Fluorescent Solid for Fingerprint Visualization and for Anti-Counterfeiting Applications

Undoped Y₂Sn₂O₇ and Eu³⁺ doped Y₂Sn₂O₇ samples with doping concentrations 7%, 8%, 9%, and 10% are successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method. A complete structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterization is carried out. XRD measurements reveal that samples crystallize in the pure single pyrochlore phase and Eu³⁺ ions occupy sites with D_3d symmetry. After mechanical grinding, the average crystallite size is less than 100 nm for all compositions. Optical characterization shows emission from the ⁵D₀ level towards the lower lying ⁷F_0,1,2,3,4 levels. The CIE color coordinates of all the pyrochlore phosphors are very close to those of the ideal red light. For the visualization of latent fingerprints, different surfaces are tested, including difficult ones (wood and ceramic), with excellent results. All three levels of fingerprint ridge patterns are visualized: core (Level 1), bifurcation and termination (Level 2), and sweat pores (Level 3). Moreover, our nano-powders are used to prepare a stable fluorescent ink.

Upconversion lanthanide nanomaterials: basics introduction, synthesis approaches, mechanism and application in photodetector and photovoltaic devices

Upconversion (UC) of lanthanide-doped nanostructure has the unique ability to convert low energy infrared (IR) light to high energy photons, which has significant potential for energy conversion applications. This review concisely discusses the basic concepts and fundamental theories of lanthanide nanostructures, synthesis techniques, and enhancement methods of upconversion for photovoltaic and for near-infrared (NIR) photodetector (PD) application. In addition, a few examples of lanthanide-doped nanostructures with improved performance were discussed, with particular emphasis on upconversion emission enhancement using coupling plasmon. The use of UC materials has been shown to significantly improve the NIR light-harvesting properties of photovoltaic devices and photocatalytic materials. However, the inefficiency of UC emission also prompted the need for additional modification of the optical properties of UC material. This improvement entailed the proper selection of the host matrix and optimization of the sensitizer and activator concentrations, followed by subjecting the UC material to surface-passivation, plasmonic enhancement, or doping. As expected, improving the optical properties of UC materials can lead to enhanced efficiency of PDs and photovoltaic devices.

Enrichment of Crystal Field Modification via Incorporation of Alkali K+ Ions in YVO4:Ho3+/Yb3+ Nanophosphor and Its Hybrid with Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Optical, Advanced Anticounterfeiting, Uranyl Detection, and Hyperthermia Applications

In this work, we report a polyol route for easy synthesis of upconversion (UC) phosphor nanoparticles, YVO₄:Ho³⁺-Yb³⁺-K⁺, which enables large-scale production and enhancement of luminescence. Upon 980 nm laser excitation, the UC emission spectrum shows a sharp bright peak at ∼650 nm of Ho³⁺ ion; and the luminescence intensity increases twofold upon K⁺ codoping. Upon 300 nm excitation, the downconversion emission spectrum shows a broad peak in the 400-500 nm range (related to the charge transfer band of V-O) along with Ho³⁺ peaks. In addition, the polyethylene glycol-coated UC nanoparticles are highly water-dispersible and their hybrid with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles shows magnetic-luminescence properties. A hyperthermia temperature is achieved from this hybrid. Both UC and hybrid nanoparticles show interesting security ink properties upon excitation by a 980 nm laser. The particles are invisible in normal light but visible upon 980 nm excitation and are useful in display devices, advanced anticounterfeiting purposes, and therapy of cancer via hyperthermia and bioimaging (since it shows red emission at ∼650 nm). Using UC nanoparticles, detection of uranyl down to 20 ppm has been achieved.

Brilliant Nonlinear Optical Response of Ho3+ and Yb3+ Activated YVO4 Nanophosphor and Its Conjugation with Fe3O4 for Smart Anticounterfeit and Hyperthermia Applications

YVO4:Ho3+/Yb3+ nanophosphors prepared by an effective polyol-mediated route show dual-mode behavior in photoluminescence. Upon 980 nm excitation, the upconversion red emission spectrum exhibits a bright red peak at ∼650 nm, characteristic of the electronic transition of the Ho3+ ion via involvement of two-photon absorption, which has been confirmed by the power-dependent luminescence study. Moreover, at 300 nm excitation, downconversion emission peaks are observed at 550, 650, and ∼755 nm. The nonradiative resonant energy transfer occurs from the V-O charge transfer band to Ho3+ ions, resulting in an improved emission of Ho3+ ions. Moreover, polyethylene glycol-coated nanoparticles make it suitable for water dispersibility; and these particles are conjugated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles to form magnetic-luminescent hybrid nanoparticles. Highly water-dispersible magnetic-luminescent hybrid material attained the hyperthermia temperature (∼42 °C) under an applied AC magnetic field. The specific absorption rate value is found to be high (138 W/g), which is more than that of pure superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. At 300 nm excitation, the high quantum yield value of ∼27% is obtained from YVO4:Ho3+/Yb3+, which suggests that it is a good phosphor material. By employing the neutron activation analysis technique, it is shown that nanophosphor particles can absorb Au3+ up to the ppm level. Interestingly, such nanophosphor also shows the potentiality for anticounterfeiting applications.

Putting Ink into Polyion Micelles: Full-Color Anticounterfeiting with Water/Organic Solvent Dual Resistance

Anticounterfeiting paintings are usually with limited colors and easy blurring and need to be dispersed in an environmentally unfriendly organic solvent. We report a set of water-based polyion micellar inks to solve all these problems. Upon complexation of reversible coordination polymers formed with rare earth metal ions Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ and the aggregation-induced emission ligand tetraphenylethylene-L₂EO₄ with oppositely charged block polyelectrolyte P2MVP₂₉-b-PEO₂₀₅, we are able to generate polyion micelles displaying three elementary emission colors of red (R) (Φ_Eu³⁺ = 24%), green (G) (Φ_Tb³⁺ = 7%), and blue (B) (Φ_TPE = 9%). Full-spectrum emission and white light emission (0.34, 0.34) become possible by simply mixing the R, G, and B micelles at the desired fraction. Strikingly, the micellar inks remain stable even after soaking in water or organic solvents (ethyl acetate, ethanol, etc.) for 24 h. We envision that polyion micelles would open a new paradigm in the field of anticounterfeiting.

Simple Methods to Synthesize YVO4 Nanocrystals or Microcrystals without Any Templates or Surfactants

YVO4 crystals with different sizes and shapes were produced through hydrothermal treatment and sonication method without any surfactants or templates. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) were used to characterize the obtained products. YVO4 nanocrystals with spindle-like shape had been produced through the two different treating methods. YVO4 crystals, which are bipyramid-capped and micrometer-sized, had been obtained through a simple hydrothermal treatment. Uniform microsized cuboids had been produced through hydrothermal treatment with the final pH value = 2.5. The effects of different final pH values on the shape and crystallinity of products were studied. To determine photoluminescence performances, Eu3+(5%)-doped YVO4 nanocrystals had been synthesized through different methods in various environments and it had been confirmed that crystallinity would affect photoluminescence intensity.