Ions Nd3 Research Articles

Optimal performance of NdAl3(BO3)4 nanocrystals random lasers

Resonant pumping associated with the influence of the quantum-defect between the excitation and the emitted laser photons allow optimal performance of neodymium ions (Nd3+) based random lasers (RLs), as demonstrated here for the first time. The RL emission at 1063.5 nm due to the Nd3+ transition 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 in a powder consisting of NdAl3(BO3)4 nanocrystals, was investigated by exciting the powder at 690 nm, 750 nm, 810 nm, and 884 nm in resonance with the Nd3+ transitions from the ground state (4I9/2) to the 4F9/2, {4F7/2,4S3/2}, {4F5/2,4H9/2}, and 4F3/2 states, respectively. Although the Nd3+ absorption cross-section at 884 nm is smaller than those centered at 810 and 750 nm, excitation at 884 nm, that is in resonance with the emitting level, provided the smaller excitation pulse energy threshold and the larger slope efficiency due to the lower quantum defect.

Synthesis optimization of guest/host poly(styrene sulphonate) doped neodymium (III) films

In the present paper, we optimize the chemical synthesis of guest/host poly(styrene sulphonate) (PSS) doped with neodymium ions (Nd3+) using chemometric and univariate procedure for volume variables of acid form of PSS and neodymium chloride (NdCl3) confirmed by FTIR experiment. In optimization procedure, the exchange counter-ions H+ by Nd3+ increases, substantially, the luminescence quantum yield, up to 75%, to 4F3/2→4I11/2 transition of Nd3+. Results show the possibility of using the present material as an efficient optical emission material, in the near infrared range, by adding polymer mechanical properties.

Transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect in active magneto-plasmonic structures.

We propose a novel method to enhance the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (TMOKE) in the magneto-plasmonic (MP) nanostructures by means of the active dielectric layer. We report the theoretical analysis of the MP structure with a ferromagnetic dielectric doped with rear-earth ions (Nd3+) as the example of a gain layer. The enhancement takes place near the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonances of the nanostructures. The stimulated emission of the dopants in the field of the SPP wave partially compensates its losses. It is shown that due to a decrease of SPP damping, a Q-factor of the MP resonance increases and the TMOKE is increased in comparison with the passive nanostructure.

Potential of ion imprinted polymers synthesized by trapping approach for selective solid phase extraction of lanthanides

Ion imprinted polymers (IIPs) specific to lanthanides were synthesized using neodymium ions (Nd3+) as template ions. Nd3+ ions form binary complex ions with 5,7-dichloroquinoline-8-ol (DCQ) or vinylpyridine (VP), or ternary complex ions with both DCQ and VP in 2-methoxyethanol, before copolymerization in the presence of styrene and divinylbenzene as monomer and cross-linker, respectively. DCQ was expected to be trapped in the synthesized polymers pores. The template ion removal was then optimized. For the first time, the DCQ leakage was determined by HPLC-UV during the template removal and the sedimentation steps before solid-phase extraction (SPE) packing. It was observed that the trapped DCQ was unfortunately lost in significant amounts, up to 51%, and that this amount varied from one synthesis to another. The grinded and sieved polymers were next packed in SPE cartridges. The study of the SPE profiles obtained with the IIPs synthesized either with the binary or the ternary complex confirmed the prominent role of DCQ on the selectivity of an IIP by comparison with a non-imprinted polymer (NIP), i.e. a polymer synthesized under the same conditions as those of the IIP but without template ions. The influence of the porogenic solvent on the selectivity was also investigated by replacing 2-methoxyethanol by acetonitrile or dimethylsulfoxyde (DMSO). The polymers synthesized in DMSO led to the most repeatable results when elution solutions with a gradual decrease in pH were percolated through the cartridge. This is why DMSO was used to optimize the SPE protocol in order to maximize the difference of extraction yield between the IIP and the NIP, i.e. promoting a selective retention on the IIP. A value of about 30% was obtained for La3+, Ce3+, Nd3+, and Sm3+. Nevertheless, with the optimized SPE protocol, IIPs from different syntheses did not have the same SPE behavior, which may result from different random leakages of DCQ. This demonstrates for the first time the main limitation of the IIPs synthesized in bulk with the trapping approach for their use in SPE.

Structural elucidation, EPR and magnetic interpretation of lanthanide (Ln = La, Nd, Sm) compounds with 4,4′-bipyridine and 2-sulfoterephthalate

A series of three lanthanide compounds, namely, {[La(stp)(bipy)(H2O)]·H2O}n (1), {[Nd(stp)(bipy)(H2O)]·2H2O}n (2), and {[Sm(stp)(bipy)(H2O)]·H2O}n (3) has been synthesized through the reaction of 2-sulfoterephthalic acid monosodium salt Na(H2stp), trivalent lanthanide nitrate [Ln(NO3)3·6H2O] and N-donor ancillary co-ligand, 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy). As a result of the potential coordination modes of the stp ligand and the bipy co-ligand, the aforementioned compounds are arranged in a 2-D network, as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In all the three compounds, the Ln ion presents a distorted tricapped trigonal-prismatic coordination geometry. The EPR measurements evidence a diamagnetic behaviour of compound 1 (La3+) whereas there exhibits a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between paramagnetic Ln3+ ions (Nd3+ and Sm3+) for compounds 2 and 3. This is also supported by the magnetic data obtained for compounds 1–3. The encapsulation of the lanthanide coordination polymers displays a moderate luminescent property.

Selective Rare Earth Recovery Employing Filamentous Viruses with Chemically Conjugated Peptides

Selective recovery of rare earth elements from industrial waste is essential for recycling processes and a green economy. Here, we developed a filamentous virus (phage)-based selective recovery system for neodymium ions (Nd3+), which are generally used in common rare earth magnets composed of neodymium-iron-boron alloys. Affinity-dependent peptide screening against Nd3+ produced phage clones displaying peptides with a specific affinity for Nd3+. Binding analyses revealed that the peptide had a specific affinity for Nd3+ rather than Fe3+. Structural analyses of the peptide showed that when the peptide bound to Nd3+, it underwent a structural transition from random-coil to β-turn structures, resulting in specific affinity for Nd3+. Approximately 6 times more Nd3+ adsorbed onto the peptide-modified phage than Fe3+ from a mixed solution containing Nd3+ and excess Fe3+, demonstrating that suitably modified phages with Nd3+-binding peptides can act as a selective recovery scaffold for Nd3+.

Silver nanoparticles enhanced photoluminescence of Nd3+ doped germanate glasses at 1064 nm

Infrared photoluminescence (PL) properties of PbO-GeO2 glasses containing neodymium ions (Nd3+) and silver nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated. The excitation was made with a continuous-wave diode laser operating at 805 nm, in resonance with the Nd3+ transition 4I9/2 → 4F5/2. Growth of ∼160% in the PL intensity at 1064 nm, was observed in comparison with a reference sample without silver NPs. The PL enhancement is attributed to the increased local-field in the Nd3+ locations nearby the NPs. The present results indicate that PbO-GeO2 glasses containing Nd3+ and silver NPs have good prospect to be used in optical amplifiers at 1064 nm.

Tunable ultraviolet and blue light generation from Nd:YAB random laser bolstered by second-order nonlinear processes.

Ultraviolet and blue light were obtained by nonlinear frequency conversion in a random laser (RL) based on Nd0.10Y0.90Al3(BO3)4 nanocrystalline powder. RL operation at 1062 nm, due to the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition of neodymium ions (Nd3+), was achieved by exciting the Nd3+ with a tunable beam from 680 to 920 nm covering the ground state absorption transitions to the 4F9/2, (4F7/2,4S3/2), (4F5/2,2H9/2), and 4F3/2 states. Light from 340 to 460 nm was obtained via the second-harmonic generation of the excitation beam while tunable blue light, from 417 to 486 nm, was generated by self-sum-frequency mixing between the excitation beam and the RL emission.

Synthesis of poly[6-(2,6-bis(1′-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridin-4-yloxy)hexyl acrylate] (PBIP) and magnetic property of its neodymium complex (PBIP-Nd3+)

Homopolymer (PBIP) containing 2,6-bis(1′-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine (MeBIP) ligands in the side chain was synthesized by RAFT polymerization and its kinetics was studied. Polymeric complex PBIP-Nd3+ was prepared by chelating PBIP with lanthanide ion Nd3+. The homopolymers and PBIP-Nd3+ complex were investigated by NMR, FTIR, GPC and TGA. The optical property of PBIP-Nd3+ complex was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The magnetic property of PBIP-Nd3+ complex was measured as a function of temperature (5 K to 300 K) and as a function of field (−3.98 × 106 A/m to 3.98 × 106 A/m). These results indicated that PBIP-Nd3+ complex is paramagnetic.

Synthesis and Near-infrared Luminescent Properties of NaGdF4:Nd3+@NaGdF4 Core/Shell Nanocrystals with Different Shell Thickness.

The near-infrared to near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) photoluminescence of nanocrystals has outstanding advantages in biological imaging. NaGdF4:Nd3+ core nanocrystals and NaGdF4:Nd3+@NaGdF4 core/shell nanocrystals with different shell thicknesses were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The obtained nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The phase of all nanocrystals is hexagonal. NaGdF4:Nd3+ core nanocrystals have an average size of 6 nm. By controlling core-shell ratio for 1:2 and 1:3, we obtained NaGdF4:Nd3+@NaGdF4 core/shell nanocrystals with average sizes of 10 nm and 11 nm, respectively. When excited at 808 nm, strong NIR emission was observed. The emission peaks at -860 nm, -1060 nm and -1330 nm correspond to the transitions from the 4F3/2 state to the 4I9/2, 4I1/2 and 4I13/2 state of Nd3+ ions, respectively. The emission intensity of NaGdF4:Nd3+@NaGdF4 core/shell nanocrystals is stronger than that of the core. The intensity increases with the increase of shell thickness. The shell improves the luminous efficiency by reducing surface defects. The decay time of Nd3+ emission in NaGdF4:Nd3+@NaGdF4 core/shell nanocrystal is longer than that in NaGdF4:Nd3+ core, indicating that the shell isolates effectively the emitting ions (Nd3+) from the quenching defects. With the increase of shell thickness, the decay time becomes longer. Within a certain range of shell thickness, thicker shell can protect the emitting Nd3+ ions on the surface of core nanocrystals more effectively.

Optical Properties of Nd Doped Lead Borotellurite Glass

Many trivalent rare earth ions such as Er3+, Tm3+, Ho3+, Pr3+ and Nd3+ were doped as absorption and emission centers in glass hosts. In this work, lead borotellurite (PBT) glass doped with neodymium ion (Nd3+) has been prepared and characterized by mean of their optical properties. The UV-Vis measurement has been carried out in order to determine the optical band gap energy, reflective indices and the polarizability. Optical absorption spectra of the glass samples are recorded in the range 400–900 nm at room temperature From the result, there are six significant absorption peaks that corresponds to 525 nm, 584 nm, 683 nm, 747 nm, 805 nm and 878 nm wavelength have been observed with the most predominant peak to be used as excitation wavelength is found centered at 584 nm. The energy band gaps as well as the refractive indices were found to vary from 2.50eV to 2.59eV and from 1.89 to 1.96 with mol% of Nd content respectively. Meanwhile, the polarizability shows a similar trend of results to refractive indices as it varies from 5.56 x 10-24 cm3 to 5.63 x 10-24 cm3. These results will be discussed further in details.

A new multiferroic ternary solid solution system: NdFeO3–Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbTiO3

Ceramic materials were sintered from powders of the NdFeO3–Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbTiO3 (NF–PFN–PT) ternary system synthesized by the conventional solid reaction method and their multiferroic properties investigated. The structure, electric and magnetic properties of the ternary system have been investigated. The introduction of Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 into the NdFeO3–PbTiO3 binary system can effectively increase its electric properties. The ternary system exhibits enhanced piezoelectric property with optimal piezoelectric constants d33=143pC/N, reduced coercive fields EC=5.78kV/cm and remnant polarization Pr=12.8μC/cm2 for 0.10NF–0.56PFN–0.34PT, near tetragonal phase region. The Curie temperature (TC) of the NdFeO3–Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbTiO3 ceramics varies in the range from 108.7°C to 67.9°C. The magnetic hysteresis loops show that the ternary system is paramagnetic originating from canting of paramagnetic sublattices in NF–PFN–PT, due to the rare earth ions Nd3+ influencing on the exchange interaction between Fe3+ ions at the octahedral sites.

Lead−barium fluoroborate glass ceramics doped with Nd3+ or Er3+

Lead−barium fluoroborate glasses in the PbF2–BaF2–B2O3, PbF2–BaO–B2O3, and PbO– BaF2–B2O3 systems doped with rare-earth ions (Nd3+ or Er3+) are synthesized and studied. It is shown that, based on these glasses, it is possible to produce transparent glass ceramics with fluoride crystalline phases, including ceramics with one crystalline phase of the fluorite structure. The spectral and luminescent properties of the doped glasses, glass ceramics, and polycrystalline complex fluorides containing Pb, Ba, and rare ions are studied.

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Double Perovskites Nd2MgIrO6

<p>We have studied the electronic and magnetic properties of double perovskites Nd<sub>2</sub>MgIrO<sub>6</sub> by means of full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on density-functional theory (DFT). For the exchange-correlation potential, generalized gradient approximation (GGA) has been used. Based on our DFT calculations, Nd<sub>2</sub>MgIrO<sub>6</sub> is found to have an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state. The material shows Mott-Hubbard type insulator, which is observed to occur due to strong correlation in Nd-4f and Ir-5d states in addition to large crystal distortion, observed in the system. Strong hybridization between O-2p, Ir-5d and Nd-4f electrons are observed from the density of states findings. Our results shows that the 5d electrons of Ir hybridize strongly with O-2p states close to the Fermi level giving rise to the insulating state with a Mott-gap of ~0.9 eV in Nd<sub>2</sub>MgIrO<sub>6</sub>. Our study suggests that the total magnetic moment reduces to 5.0 μ<sub>B</sub> per formula unit as a result of itinerant super-exchange rather than the exchange interaction involving individual ions of Nd and Ir atoms.</p><p>Journal of Nepal Physical Society Vol.3(1) 2015: 50-54</p>

The role played by dopant ions for the production of broadband white light emission from metal oxide nano-powders under laser diode excitation

We report on the role played by dopant ions to create broadband white light emission from metal oxide nano-powders. Y2O3 was doped with different rare earth ions (Nd3+, Er3+, Yb3+) and Cr3+ ion to investigate their role on the production of white light emission. We have determined that the dopant ions have a facilitator but not a decisive role on the production of the white light emission by doing measurements such as reflectance, white light emission, excitation power dependency and color quality parameters. All measurements showed that the production of white light does not depend on the amount and the type of the dopant ions.

Effects of Gd3+/Y3+ codoping on the spectral properties of Nd:CaF2 crystals

In the last few years, Nd3+ doped fluoride crystals have achieved some amazing laser performances by codoping buffer ions such as Y3+ and Gd3+ ions, which lead to the changing of local structure of Nd3+ ions. In this work, effects of doping concentration of Gd3+ and Y3+ ions on optical properties are discussed. The relationships between spectroscopic properties and the unit cells are also discussed. Nd, Y:CaF2 and Nd, Gd:CaF2 disordered crystals are grown by using temperature gradient technique (TGT). Among 0.5 at.%Nd, x at.%Gd(x=2, 5, 8, 10):CaF2 crystals, the crystal with Gd3+ of 2 at.% has the longest fluorescence lifetime (499 s). Increasing the concentration of Gd3+ up to 5 at.%, the crystal has a maximum absorption cross section of 1.910-20 cm2, and a maximum emission cross section of 1.910-20cm2. The crystal with Gd3+ of 8 at.%has a maximum emission bandwidth of 29.03 nm(FWHM). Among 0.6 at.%Nd, x at.%Y(x=2, 5, 8, 10):CaF2 crystal, the crystal with Y3+ of 5 at.%has the biggest absorption cross section (2.4110-20 cm2), and the biggest emission cross section (3.1710-20 cm2), when the concentration of Y3+ is 5 at.%. When the Y3+ concentration increases up to 10 at.%, the crystal has a longest fluorescence lifetime of 359.4 s and maximal emission bandwidth of 26 nm(FWHM).The different concentrations of codoping ions have different effects on the Nd:CaF2 crystals, for the formations of different optical centers. In order to study the effects of local structure around Nd3+ on the optical properties in a set of Nd:CaF2 single crystals with different codoping concentrations of Gd3+ and Y3+, the unit cell parameters are investigated by X-ray diffraction. With different concentrations of Gd3+ and Y3+ ions in Nd:CaF2 crystal, the local structure of Nd3+ changes, which leads to different optical properties. The relevant details will further be explained in this paper.

Sunlight activated new long persistent luminescence phosphor BaSiO3:Eu2 +,Nd3 +,Tm3 +: Optical properties and mechanism

In this article, we reported a novel persistent luminescence phosphor, BaSiO3:Eu2+,Nd3+,Tm3+, which exhibits excellent long persistent properties. After excited by the sunlight, BaSiO3:Eu2+,Nd3+,Tm3+ phosphors emit intense yellow long persistent emission covering the region from 450 to 700nm which can last about 10h. Thermoluminescence curves were used to understand the trapping nature of persistent luminescence. The results show that co-doped ions (Nd3+ and Tm3+) may act as the energy storage centers, and the Eu2+ ions act as the emitters. Also, the corresponding mechanism of afterglow luminescence has been illustrated in detail.

Multi-wavelength emission through self-induced second-order wave-mixing processes from a Nd3+ doped crystalline powder random laser.

Random lasers (RLs) based on neodymium ions (Nd3+) doped crystalline powders rely on multiple light scattering to sustain laser oscillation. Although Stokes and anti-Stokes Nd3+ RLs have been demonstrated, the optical gain obtained up to now was possibly not large enough to produce self-frequency conversion. Here we demonstrate self-frequency upconversion from Nd3+ doped YAl3(BO3)4 monocrystals excited at 806 nm, in resonance with the Nd3+ transition 4I9/2 → 4F5/2. Besides the observation of the RL emission at 1062 nm, self-converted second-harmonic at 531 nm, and self-sum-frequency generated emission at 459 nm due to the RL and the excitation laser at 806 nm, are reported. Additionally, second-harmonic of the excitation laser at 403 nm was generated. These results exemplify the first multi-wavelength source of radiation owing to nonlinear optical effect in a Nd3+ doped crystalline powder RL. Contrary to the RLs based on dyes, this multi-wavelength light source can be used in photonic devices due to the large durability of the gain medium.

Layer-by-layer self-assembly for controlled magnetic multilayer thin film fabrication

AbstractThe copolymer poly[4′-(4-methacryloyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-co-N-(vinylbenzylimino)-diacetic acid] [P(mPhtpy-co-vbda)] was synthesized by the RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization method and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The bimetallic complexes of the copolymer were prepared by chelating with Nd3+ and Co2+. The magnetic multilayer film was fabricated via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly with the copolymer and metal ions (Nd3+ and Co2+). Attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the film, indicating that the driving force for fabricating the multilayer film was the coordination interaction. The magnetic behavior of the complexes and the film was measured as a function of the magnetic field strength (0–50 kOe) at 5 K and also of the temperature (5–300 K) at the magnetic field strength (30 kOe). The magnetic hysteresis loops of the complexes and the film showed the typical “S” shape at 5 K, exhibiting the properties of soft ferromagnetic materials.

Hybrid silica nanoparticles for sequestration and luminescence detection of trivalent rare-earth ions (Dy3+ and Nd3+) in solution

New hybrid material-based adsorbents acting also as luminescent probes upon uptake of trivalent rare-earth (RE) ions Nd3+ and Dy3+ have been developed. SiO2 NPs functionalized by three different organic ligands, N-aminopropylen-amido-iminodiacetic acid (L1), pyridine-α,β-dicarboxylic acid bis(propylenamide) (L2), and N-propylen-iminodiacetic acid (L3), have been produced and fully characterized by 13C, 1H, and 29Si solid-state NMR, FTIR, TGA, XRD, TEM, nitrogen gas adsorption, and also by NTA and DLS in solution. The synthesized hybrid materials are well dispersible and stable in aqueous solutions according to NTA and consist of spheres with diameters less than 100 nm. Their affinities to the lanthanide ions Dy3+ and Nd3+ have been investigated in aqueous solution and characterized by SEM–EDS and complexometric titration, demonstrating that they can be successfully used as adsorbents for sequestration of trivalent RE ions. The adsorbed RE ions can efficiently be desorbed from saturated nanoadsorbents by addition of hydrochloric acid. The produced nanomaterials may also be used as luminescent probes for Dy3+ and Nd3+ ions in solution.