Multifunctional Eu Research Articles

Enhanced Thermal and Photostability of Perovskite Solar Cells by a Multifunctional Eu (III) Trifluoromethanesulfonate Additive

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed a meteoric rise in device performance. However, maintaining photostability, particularly under thermal stress, remains a challenge due to defect formation in the perovskite layer. This study introduces europium (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate [Eu(OTF)3] as a multifunctional additive in two‐step processed perovskite films, significantly improving the performance and high‐temperature photostability of n‐i‐p PSCs. Density function theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the OTF− anion strongly coordinates with Pb2+, effectively inhibiting iodine vacancy defect formation. The addition of Eu(OTF)3 promotes perovskite grain growth to ≈2 µm and enhances film crystallinity. PSCs with a structure of ITO/SnO2/perovskite/PDCBT/NiOx/Au achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.8%. Under 85 ± 5 °C and 1 sun illumination at an open circuit in ambient air, the PSCs with Eu(OTF)3 retain 82% of their initial PCE after aging for 1500 h.

Synthesis of Multifunctional Eu(III) Complex Doped Fe3O4/Au Nanocomposite for Dual Photo-Magnetic Hyperthermia and Fluorescence Bioimaging

In this paper, the luminescent complex Eu(3-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)3 was integrated with Fe3O4 and gold (Au) nanoparticles to form a multifunctional nanocomposite, Fe3O4/Au/Eu(TTA)3 (FOASET NC), for dual magnetic-photothermal therapy and biomedical imaging. Upon functionalization with amine-NH2, the FOASET NC exhibits a small size of 60-70 nm and strong, sharp emission at λmax = 614 nm, enhanced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au nanoparticles that provided an effective label for HT29 colorectal cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy imaging. In addition, a hyperthermia temperature (42-46 °C) was completely achieved by using these FOASET NCs in an aqueous solution with three heating modes for (i) Magnetic therapy (MT), (ii) Photothermal therapy (PT), and (iii) Dual magnetic-photothermal therapy (MPT). The heating efficiency was improved in the dual magnetic-photothermal heating mode.

Multifunctional Eu3+‐coordination polymer for highly selective recognition of Fe3+ and MnO4− ions in water and efficient catalytic fixation of carbon dioxide

A stable multifunctional Eu3+‐coordination polymer formulated as [Eu(Htzpia)(H2tzpia)]n (Eu‐CP‐1) has been successfully constructed by the reaction of Eu3+ ion with the new organic ligand 5‐(3‐(tetrazol‐5‐yl) phenyl) isophthalic acid (H3tzpia) under hydrothermal condition. Eu‐CP‐1 displays a 2D coordination network, in which 1D uniform chains with (μ‐COO)3 bridges are interlinked by the Htzpia and H2tzpia spacers. The 2D networks are associated into 3D architectures through hydrogen bonding interactions. Eu‐CP‐1 displays excellent luminescence property and exhibits good stability in water. Thus, Eu‐CP‐1 can be used to detect Fe3+ ions and MnO4− ions with high sensitivity and selectivity through luminescence quenching effect. Due to the presence of open metal sites, free oxygen/nitrogen atoms, and NH groups of tetrazole rings, Eu‐CP‐1 can act as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the cycloaddition reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxides under eco‐friendly and solvent‐free conditions. Interestingly, Eu‐CP‐1 is highly recyclable and reusable for up to five cycles without an obvious loss in sensing or catalytic efficiency. In addition, the possible relevant mechanisms are also investigated. This work should aid in expanding potential application prospects of the lanthanide CPs in the fields of contaminated ions detection and CO2 cycloaddition.

Multifunctional Eu(III)-modified HOFs: roxarsone and aristolochic acid carcinogen monitoring and latent fingerprint identification based on artificial intelligence.

The exploration of multifunctional materials and intelligent technologies used for fluorescence sensing and latent fingerprint (LFP) identification is a research hotspot of material science. In this study, an emerging crystalline luminescent material, Eu3+-functionalized hydrogen-bonded organic framework (Eu@HOF-BTB, Eu@1), is fabricated successfully. Eu@1 can emit purple red fluorescence with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 36.82%. Combined with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms including support vector machine, principal component analysis, and hierarchical clustering analysis, Eu@1 as a sensor can concurrently distinguish two carcinogens, roxarsone and aristolochic acid, based on different mechanisms. The sensing process exhibits high selectivity, high efficiency, and excellent anti-interference. Meanwhile, Eu@1 is also an excellent eikonogen for LFP identification with high-resolution and high-contrast. Based on an automatic fingerprint identification system, the simultaneous differentiation of two fingerprint images is achieved. Moreover, a simulation experiment of criminal arrest is conducted. By virtue of the Alexnet-based fingerprint analysis platform of AI, unknown LFPs can be compared with a database to identify the criminal within one second with over 90% recognition accuracy. With AI technology, HOFs are applied for the first time in the LFP identification field, which provides a new material and solution for investigators to track criminal clues and handle cases efficiently.

Surface-Engineered Multifunctional Eu:Gd2O3 Nanoplates for Targeted and pH-Responsive Drug Delivery and Imaging Applications.

In this paper, we report the synthesis of surface-engineered multifunctional Eu:Gd2O3 triangular nanoplates with small size and uniform shape via a high-temperature solvothermal technique. Surface engineering has been performed by a one-step polyacrylate coating, followed by controlled conjugation chemistry. This creates the desired number of surface functional groups that can be used to attach folic acid as a targeting ligand on the nanoparticle surface. To specifically deliver the drug molecules in the nucleus, the folate density on the nanoparticle surface has been kept low. We have also modified the drug molecules with terminal double bond and ester linkage for the easy conjugation of nanoparticles. The nanoparticle surface was further modified with free thiols to specifically attach the modified drug molecules with a pH-responsive feature. High drug loading has been encountered for both hydrophilic drug daunorubicin (∼69% loading) and hydrophobic drug curcumin (∼75% loading) with excellent pH-responsive drug release. These nanoparticles have also been used as imaging probes in fluorescence imaging. Some preliminary experiments to evaluate their application in magnetic resonance imaging have also been explored. A detailed fluorescence imaging study has confirmed the efficient delivery of drugs to the nuclei of cancer cells with a high cytotoxic effect. Synthesized surface-engineered nanomaterials having small hydrodynamic size, excellent colloidal stability, and high drug-loading capacity, along with targeted and pH-responsive delivery of dual drugs to the cancer cells, will be potential nanobiomaterials for various biomedical applications.

RGD/CTX-conjugated multifunctional Eu-Gd2O3 NRs for targeting detection and inhibition of early tumor.

Glioblastoma is currently the most common and lethal brain tumor, so accurate detection and effective therapy at the early glioblastoma stage is crucial. Herein, multifunctional Eu-Gd2O3 nanorods (NRs) with good paramagnetic and luminescence properties were fabricated through a hydrothermal method and a subsequent calcination technique, and exhibited good T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (r1 = 5.13 Gd mM-1 s-1) and cell-luminescence imaging properties. Then, Eu-Gd2O3 NRs were coated with difunctionalized polyethylene glycol (Mal-PEG-NHS), and subsequently conjugated through thiolation with arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD) and chlorotoxin (CTX), respectively. The results of the cell test indicated that RGD/CTX-conjugated Eu-Gd2O3 NRs (RGD-NRs-CTX) could specifically target and adhere on U251 cells, leading to cellular apoptosis. The in vivo investigation revealed that RGD-NRs-CTX possessed no tissue/organ toxicity and a long blood circulation time. The results of in vivo MR imaging showed a significant preferential targeting and accumulation of RGD-NRs-CTX onto the early tumor, and in vivo luminescence imaging displayed a good infiltration capacity in tumor regions. Based on a superimposed targeting property of CTX and RGD, the results of everyday tail-vein injection suggested that RGD-NRs-CTX could effectively inhibit early tumor growth, without any damage to normal tissues/organs. Therefore, these results demonstrate that RGD-NRs-CTX are promising candidates for simultaneous targeting detection and therapy for early tumor.

A multifunctional Eu MOF as a fluorescent pH sensor and exhibiting highly solvent-dependent adsorption and degradation of rhodamine B

A porous Eu MOF with pH-dependent fluorescent emission and exhibiting selective adsorption and degradation of rhodamine B was synthesized and characterized.

The photoluminescence, drug delivery and imaging properties of multifunctional Eu 3+/Gd 3+ dual-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods

The design and synthesis of multifunctional systems with high biocompatibility are very significant for the future of clinical applications. Herein, we report a microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of multifunctional Eu 3+/Gd 3+ dual-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanorods, and the photoluminescence (PL), drug delivery and in vivo imaging of as-prepared Eu 3+/Gd 3+ doped HAp nanorods. The photoluminescent and magnetic multifunctions of HAp nanorods are realized by the dual-doping with Eu 3+ and Gd 3+. The PL intensity of doped HAp nanorods can be adjusted by varying Eu 3+ and Gd 3+ concentrations. The magnetization of doped HAp nanorods increases with the concentration of doped Gd 3+. The as-prepared Eu 3+/Gd 3+-doped HAp nanorods exhibit inappreciable toxicity to the cells in vitro. More importantly, the Eu 3+/Gd 3+-doped HAp nanorods show a high drug adsorption capacity and sustained drug release using ibuprofen as a model drug, and the drug release is governed by a diffusion process. Furthermore, the noninvasive visualization of nude mice with subcutaneous injection indicates that the Eu 3+/Gd 3+-doped HAp nanorods with the photoluminescent function are suitable for in vivo imaging. In vitro and in vivo imaging tests indicate that Eu 3+/Gd 3+-doped HAp nanorods have a potential in applications such as a multiple-model imaging agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, photoluminescence imaging and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The Eu 3+/Gd 3+ dual-doped HAp nanorods are promising for applications in the biomedical fields such as multifunctional drug delivery systems with imaging guidance.