Rare Earth Doping Research Articles

Beta radiation-induced thermoluminescence in pure and rare earth doped ZrO2 prepared by pechini-type sol-gel

Thermoluminescence properties of ZrO2, ZrO2:Gd3+, ZrO2:Gd3+–Dy3+, ZrO2:Gd3+–Yb3+, ZrO2:Gd3+–Er3+ and ZrO2:Gd3+–Sm3+ phosphors synthesized by Pechini method were investigated. XRD measurement suggested that all the samples are monoclinic and tetragonal multiphase. Crystallite size measured using SEM is around 200 nm–250 nm. The Tmax–TSTOP, variable dose and glow curve fitting methods were applied to the phosphors and reusability, dose responses and fading characteristics were examined. The phosphors exhibit a natural TL emission which disappeared after heat treatment. The glow curves of the pure ZrO2 have thirteen individual glow peaks, which include the peaks reported for the monoclinic and tetragonal phases. Although some peaks emerge at low irradiation doses, others can only be observed at high doses. Moreover, although the dopes blanched some of the peaks of pure ZrO2, they made others more intense. These peaks can be interpreted as if they emerged caused by the rare earth doping into the matrix material. On the other hand, Gd3+, Dy3+, Yb3+, Er3+ and Sm3+ dopes did not alter the peak temperatures of the matrix material. As a result, the individual peak intensities are very sensitive to the dopes. Fundamental trapping parameters of the trap levels were calculated, and the results are in good agreement with the given values of activation energies in the literature. Fading experiments show the materials have both normal and abnormal fading characteristics in long and short-term storage.

CaTiO3 nanoparticles as functional additives for the BaTiO3-based X8R type dielectric ceramics

This research investigates the potential of Calcium titanate (CaTiO3 or CT) nanoparticles as functional additives to enhance the dielectric properties of Barium titanate (BaTiO3 or BT)-based ceramic dielectrics. To address the need for high-temperature stability in MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitor) applications, especially within the automotive and aerospace sectors, we have explored BT-based complex perovskite solid solutions comprising various cation substitutions, including Ca2+ and Yb3+, into barium titanate (BT) as a method to suppress the dielectric property anomaly near the Curie temperature effectively. The focus is on the impact of the application of CT nanoparticles as additive materials on phase formation, microstructure development, and dielectric behavior of the resulting ceramics to align with the Extended 'Temperature Coefficient of Capacitance (TCC)' criteria defined by the EIA X8R specification. When the hydrothermally synthesized CT nanopowder was applied in the Ca-doped BT ceramics fabrications as source material of the Ca dopants, it was beneficial to achieve both temperature stability and high dielectric constant. The CT nanoparticles are believed to play multiple roles during the solid-state reaction with BT and rare earth dopant (Yb). Since the Yb3+ ions can be more easily dissolved into the CT lattice than BT with their amphoteric character, the CT nanoparticles in the BT-CT-Yb2O3 mixture can act as an intermediary, dissolving the Yb3+ first in its A- or B-site before the final solid-solution formation with the BT. The sequential substitutions of the Yb3+ and Ca2+ into BT via CT nanoparticles could affect the site occupancy of Ca2+ in the BT lattice, which is very important in determining the dielectric properties of the Ca-doped BT processed in reducing atmospheres. Through a comprehensive experimental approach, including phase composition analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microstructural examination using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), this work reveals the significance of synthetic methodology and dopant incorporation strategy on achieving a desired core-shell microstructure and improved dielectric performance. This research underscores the efficacy of CT nanoparticles as a promising route towards the development of BT-based dielectric ceramics with superior temperature stability, offering valuable insights for the advancement of MLCC technology to cater to high-temperature applications.

Unveiling the enhancing mechanism of cyclic stability in Tb doped Ni-Mn-Sn Heusler alloys

Rare-earth (RE) doping has been demonstrated as a feasible approach to improve the cyclic performance of Ni-Mn-based Heusler alloys, but the current demonstration of underlying mechanism is simply ascribed to strengthening of the grain boundary cohesion. In this work, the effects brought by RE doping on microstructure, stress induced martensitic transformation behavior and cyclic stability of Ni-Mn-based alloys were systematically investigated. By Tb doping, a stable adiabatic temperature change (|ΔTad|) of ∼ 5.5 K over 1000 cycles with no significant degradation was obtained in (Ni43Mn47Sn10)99.5Tb0.5. (1) Through the in-situ digital image correlation strain measurement and in-situ SEM observation upon loading process, it revealed a multipoint nucleation of the martensitic transformation across the specimen arising from the intergranular NiSnTb secondary phase as nucleate sites, which weakens the strain concentration and suppresses the crack tendency. (2) The multipoint nucleation promotes the transformation volume fraction, making the large |ΔTad| could be driven by a small transformation strain (Δεtr) and (Ni43Mn47Sn10)99.5Tb0.5 yields a |ΔTad/Δεtr| up to 8.7 K %−1. Such reduction in applied strain further alleviates the extension of the cracks. Both the two factors brought by Tb doping in (Ni43Mn47Sn10)99.5Tb0.5 give rise to the enhancement in cyclic stability of the large elastocaloric effect.

Rare earth induced lattice distortion of Bi2WO6 to effectively improve photocatalytic performance: Experimental and DFT calculations

The excellent visible light photocatalytic activity of bismuth-based photocatalysts has attracted the interest of many scholars at home and abroad. In this paper, rare earth (Sm, La, Ce, Eu) doped Bi2WO6 photocatalysts were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method using bismuth nitrate and sodium tungstate as precursors. The microstructures and spectroscopic performances of prepared materials were investigated utilizing characterization methods, such as XRD, XPS, UV–vis, TEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption, etc., and the effluent removal performances were studied by using rhodamine B as a simulated degradation dye and the photodegradation mechanism was investigated in combination with DFT calculations. XRD indicates that the rare earth doping leads to the lattice distortion of the (131) crystal surface of Bi2WO6, and the relative amount of distortion is directly proportional to the photocatalytic activity; UV–vis spectra show that the absorption edge of Bi2WO6 is obviously red-shifted with the rare earth doping, and N2 adsorption-desorption curve show that the doped rare earths make the specific surface area of the sample effectively increased. Moreover, XPS spectrum suggests that the doped rare earth Ce and Eu often exist in the form of metastable oxidation states, and the transformation between Ce3+/Ce4+ and Eu2+/Eu3+ oxidation states is easy to form impurity energy levels between Bi2WO6, which make the energy level significantly enriched to broaden the absorption range and reduce band gap width of the material. DFT calculations further indicate that the rare earths successfully replace Bi sites. One of the main reasons for the improvement of photocatalytic activity is that rare earth doping is easier to replace Bi sites, leading to increased relative aberration; another one is that the arrangement of EVB and ECB in the photocatalytic mechanism is type-II, which contributes to red-shift of absorption edge and effective separation of electron-hole pairs in the photocatalytic process, thus improving the photocatalytic activity.

Sm3+-Doped CdFe2O4 Nanocrystals Prepared in Water-Soluble Polymeric Nanoreactors and Their Characterizations

The rare-earth ion doping in nanocrystals has the advantage on improving the interested properties. As one of rare-earths, the trivalent samarium ion (Sm[Formula: see text]) was used as a dopant. The precursor of Sm[Formula: see text]-doped cadmium ferrite (CdFe2O4) nanocrystals was reacted in water-soluble polymeric nanoreactors as a dispersed phase in miniemulsion, and then calcinated to form doped nanocrystals. The 1% Sm[Formula: see text]-doped nanocrystal in small size exhibited the smaller narrow gap energy and weak photoluminescent emission intensity; which attributed to the positive influences on the photocatalytic degradation. The selected Sm[Formula: see text]-doped spinel ferrite nanocrystals provide a unique catalyzer for organic compound photodegradation.

Fine-tuning of redox-ability, optical, and electrical properties of Bi2MoO6 ceramics via lanthanide doping and rGO integration for photo-degradation of Methylene Blue and Ciprofloxacin

Herein, lanthanide ion (Gd+3) doped Bismuth Molybdate (Bi2MoO6) integrated on the rGO sheets has been prepared as a novel photocatalyst (Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO) for the photocatalytic treatment of toxic pollutants. Different physiochemical, optical, electrical, thermal, and electrochemical properties of Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO, along with its counterparts (Bi2MoO6 and Gd@Bi2MoO6), were studied through XRD, SEM/TEM, FT-IR, UV/Vis, I-V, TGA, Mott-Schottky, and EIS measurements. Photocatalytic experiments revealed that Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity, achieving 96.2 % photo-degradation of Methylene Blue with 120 min of irradiation, which is 6.5 and 3.1 times higher compared to Bi2MoO6 (40.9 %) and Gd@Bi2MoO6 (64.8 %), respectively. Moreover, Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO demonstrated a notable photocatalytic efficiency of 81.7 % towards Ciprofloxacin, significant as per the existing literature benchmark. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the in-built Gd+3 redox centers, high electrical conductivity (7.35 × 10−3 S/m), favorable flat band potential (-0.81 V), and low semiconductor impedance (Rct = 51.71 Ω and Rs = 0.90 Ω). Additionally, the electron-capturing ability of lanthanide dopant ions and S-C heterojunction of Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO facilitates the separation of photo-generated e-/h+ pairs and favors high concentrations of ROS. The results obtained highlight the potential of Gd@Bi2MoO6/rGO for applications in photocatalysis and wastewater treatment.

Effect of different rare-earth dopings of KNN-based transparent energy storage ceramics

Rare-earth elements [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-doped ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text])[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]O3 ceramics (abbreviated as KNLNB-0.1%RE) were prepared by conventional solid-phase sintering method. The structure, transparency, energy storage and photoluminescence properties of the samples are investigated. All ceramics have the pseudo-cubic phase structure without the impurity phase at room temperature. KNLNB-0.1%RE ceramics exhibit excellent optical transmittance, with KNLNB-0.1%Ho achieving 71.8% transmittance in the visible wavelength range (780[Formula: see text]nm) and largest effective energy storage density of 1.45[Formula: see text]J/cm3. In our experiments, rare-earth-doped KNLNB ceramics exhibit photoluminescence effects. This work facilitates the development of transparent energy storage ceramics with fluorescent effects.

Influence of Ho, Gd, La Doping on Grain-Grain Boundary Characteristics and Minimization of Leakage Current in Nickel Ferrites

This study explores the impact of doping with Ho, Gd, and La on sol-gel-derived nickel ferrites through a comprehensive analysis using various analytical techniques. The combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra analysis, impedance spectroscopy, and I-V analysis enables a detailed exploration of the structural, compositional, and electrical characteristics of the samples. Williamson-Hall plots in XRD analysis reveal crucial insights into grain and grain boundary impacts, revealing a shift in trends for doped samples indicative of tensile strain and underscores the influence of dopant ions on lattice distortion. XRF study confirms the elemental composition of the samples, validating the experimental approach. Impedance spectroscopy sheds light on conduction mechanisms and charge transfer processes, while the modulus study identifies distinct relaxation peaks corresponding to grain and grain boundary relaxation mechanisms. IV analysis demonstrates a significant reduction in leakage current with rare Earth element doping, suggesting promising applications.

Manipulating and investigating the room-temperature magnetic memory phenomenon: The impact of rare-earth ion doping on nickel oxide nanoparticles

This study investigates the relationship between point defect density and magnetic properties in nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs). Specifically, we explore the effects of 0.5 % trivalent rare-earth ion (RE3+: Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, and Dy3+) doping on NiO NPs, considering the influence of RE3+ ionic radius on structural modulation and magnetic properties. Our findings reveal important trends: increased microstrain (0.08 %–0.17 %) and decreased crystalline size (36–17 nm) with increasing ionic radius (r = 0.91 to 1.01 Å), along with a preference for growth along the (1 1 1) plane over (2 0 0). Additionally, multivalent point defects increase with the increase of ionic radius. Substituting Ni2+ site with RE3+ ion promotes nearest-neighbor weak ferromagnetic interaction over next-nearest-neighbor strong antiferromagnetic (AF) interaction. This leads to a redshift of two magnons (2 M) frequency by 50 cm−1 and enhanced room temperature (RT) magnetization (0.23–0.43 emu/g) with increasing ionic radius. Ce-doped NiO (r = 1.01 Å) shows the smallest crystalline size (17 nm), maximum 2 M redshift, and enhanced RT magnetization (0.43 emu/g) based on interacting bound magnetic polaron model. Ce-, Pr-, Nd-, and Sm-doped NiO NPs exhibit RT magnetic memory effects, while Dy-doped NiO NPs (r = 0.912 Å) display AF properties. Our analysis provides valuable insights for designing RT magnetic memory materials with tailored properties through suitable RE3+ ion substitutions.

Rare earth-doped carbon nitride composite Ce-based metal-organic framework for visible light-driven nitrogen fixation catalysis

The utilization of visible light for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation offers a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for the production of ammonia. The present study focuses on the synthesis of a series of rare earth-doped carbon nitride composite ultraviolet-activated Ce-UiO-66 catalysts, denoted as RECN-actMOF, for efficient nitrogen fixation. Rare earth doping modulates the band structure of carbon nitride, facilitating the formation of a type-I heterojunction with Ce-UiO-66 and promoting photocarrier generation at nitrogen fixation sites. Among these, Sm-doped SmCN-actMOF exhibits high visible-light absorption and efficient utilization of photocarriers, resulting in an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 1.58% under 495 nm light irradiation. This study provides a pathway for enhancing the nitrogen fixation efficiency of photocatalysts through the incorporation of rare earth elements, and expanding the potential applications of rare earth materials in the field of photocatalysis.

Research Progress on Controllable Absorption Properties of Rare Earth Element Doped Electromagnetic Wave Absorbing Materials†

Comprehensive SummaryThe utilization of rare earth (RE) elements is pivotal in wave absorption. In particular cases, RE group elements manifesting unique 4f electron layer structures are doped as impurities into certain materials, which is a practical and reliable method for regulating these materials' magnetic and electrical properties. Moreover, ferrites and metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), standing out among conventional and emerging wave‐absorbing materials, can achieve significantly enhanced wave absorption through RE doping or substitution. Numerous scholars have dedicated massive research over a substantially long time to explore the utilization of RE elements to reinforce the absorption of these two materials. Therefore, consolidating and summarizing such efforts are crucial and necessary. This review aims to clarify the underlined mechanism of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption and elaborate on the impact of RE doping by providing a comprehensive overview of recent progress in ferrites and MOFs dopped with RE elements. Finally, the limitations associated with RE doping in such materials are delineated, and the upcoming prospects for its application are highlighted. Key ScientistsIn 1947, J. A. Marinky et al. obtained promethium from uranium fission products. From the isolates of yttrium soil in 1794 to the discovery of promethium in 1947, it took more than 150 years. In 1975, Guangxian Xu found that the rare earth solvent extraction system has the basic "constant mixed extraction ratio" rule. In 1984, the theory of "one‐cavity multi‐mode" was proposed by Weigan Lin to improve the electromagnetic wave theory further and develop the theory of absorbing materials. In 1995, Omar M. Yaghi synthesized the first MOFs in history, and since then, they have been widely used in gas adsorption and separation and other fields because of their large specific surface area and adjustable pore structure. In recent years, various functional materials based on MOFS‐derived carbon have been studied endlessly. Masato Sagawa, known for inventing NdFeB magnets, won the "28th Japan Prize" in 2012. In recent years, Renchao Che has promoted the development of interface theory and magnetic theory in the field of wave absorption. In addition, Jiurong Liu is committed to developing various wave‐absorbing materials and the respective theoretical research and continues to promote the development of wave‐absorbing materials to "thin, light, wide and strong".

Rare earth doped bimetal hydroxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes as composite electrodes to achieve high-energy-density asymmetric supercapacitors

A novel electrode material of Ni–Co bimetallic hydroxide composite multi-wall carbon nanotubes (La–NiCo LDH/MWCNTs/NF) doped with rare earth elements was prepared on nickel foam (NF) by a one-step hydrothermal method and doped with different concentrations of La3+ ions. The introduction of La3+ ions can increase the layer spacing of LDH materials. The acidification of MWCNTs on the surface of NF can also enhance the collection effect of NF. The synergistic effect of MWCNTs and La3+ ions further improves the specific capacitance of the material. At the current density of 1 A g−1, the maximum specific capacitance of the sample with 5 % La3+ ion concentration reaches 4396.0 F g−1, and the capacitance retention is 70.31 % after 3000 cycles of a single electrode. When assembled into a device, the device obtains a high energy density of 77.86 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 800.0 W kg−1. After assembling into an asymmetric supercapacitor, it has undergone 8000 cycles of performance testing, and the capacitance ratio is only reduced by 4.9 %. It shows good electrochemical cycle performance. This work provides a new way to study the doping of rare earth elements for supercapacitor materials.

Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of CoNi spinel ferrites doped by rare earth atoms: a density functional theory study

Density Functional Theory is employed to investigate how specific rare earth (RE) dopants (Pr, Y, Dy) affect the electronic, magnetic, and optical characteristics of Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 (CN) spinel ferrites. The impact of RE atoms, which replace Fe ions in the supercell, is elucidated by analyzing the spin-resolved density of states, magnetic moment, and optical parameters. The findings demonstrate that both single and collective RE doping play a vital role in manipulating the key properties of these materials. Notably, we reveal that incorporating RE dopants into CN structures leads to a reduction in the energy band gap. Additionally, this work underscores substantial spin-dependent behavior and provides valuable insights into optical properties, suggesting that RE-doped CNs hold significant potential in the fields of spintronics and optoelectronics.

Effect of Bi-Er-O addition on the electrical properties of ZnBiCoMnSb based varistor

In order to restrain the breakdown voltage gradient E1 mA at a low level and simultaneously improve nonlinear coefficient α, the rare earth element Er was doped into ZnBiCoMnSb based varistor ceramic in the form of Bi-Er-O phase. As a result, the excellent electrical performances including low E1 mA of 190 V/mm, high α of 55.6 as well as low leakage current IL of 2.5 μA/cm2 are obtained in 3 wt% Bi-Er-O phase modified ZnBiCoMnSb based varistor ceramic. It is found that the concentration of Er at grain boundaries is slightly higher than that in ZnO grains, while it is uniformly distributed throughout the bulk ceramic. This characteristic of element distribution mainly contributes to the enhancement of α by forming interface state densities and deep bulk traps at grain boundaries, rather than E1 mA. The reported herein strategy to restrain E1 mA and improve α at the same time on ZnBiCoMnSb based varistor ceramic can act as a reference for further fabrication of low-E1 mA varistor ceramics with excellent nonlinear performances by rare earth elements doping.

Low-temperature Co-precipitation Synthesis of ZnAl2O4 Nanophosphors Probing its Luminescent, Antibacterial and Anticancer Potentials.

Metal nanoparticles and their binary oxides are well-known for their interactions with biomolecules and their applications in the biomedical field. However, the potential of ternary oxide nanophosphors remains underexplored in these fields due to challenges associated with high-temperature synthesis procedures and the use of toxic chemicals. ZnAl2O4, a ternary oxide matrix, being recognized for its adjustable wide bandgap, impressive surface properties, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and high quantum yield, is chosen for the present work. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the structural, morphological, optical, and cytotoxic properties of zinc aluminate nano phosphors synthesized through a co-precipitation method followed by low-temperature calcination. Analysis using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the formation of the ZnAl2O4 spinel phase initiates at 300°C and completes at 750°C.SEM-EDAX measurements provided further confirmation of the compositional integrity of the synthesized sample. The average crystallite size, determined to be 11.47nm through a W-H plot, along with a higher bandgap value of 4.49eV compared to bulk ZnAl2O4 from the diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), attests to the success of the nanophosphor synthesis. The self-activated blue luminescent centers of ZnAl2O4 can be fine-tuned to emit light in the green and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum through appropriate rare earth (RE) doping, utilizing Tb3+ and Eu3+ respectively. Furthermore, the particles underwent short-term in-vitro cytotoxicity testing using Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites cells (DLA) and normal cells, demonstrating high activity against DLA cells while maintaining compatibility with normal cells.

Effect of the interaction of Fe- and Ce-contents on the structure and magnetic properties of M-type strontium ferrites

Sr1-xCexFe12O19 and Sr1-xCexFe12-yO19-δ (x = 0–0.2, y = 0–2) powders were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method, and the effect on the structure and magnetic properties of changes in doping concentration and iron content has been investigated. XRD results confirmed the formation of M phase and impurities of CeO2 and Fe2O3. The SEM results show that cerium doping leads to a decrease in grain size. For Sr1-xCexFe12O19, the saturation magnetization increases to 77.73 emu/g first and then decreases with the increase of cerium doping. More importantly, our study also found that as the Ce doping concentration and iron content change, the interaction between the two changes differently. This interaction will have different effects on the occupancy of iron ions at spin-up and spin-down sites, ultimately leading to a significant characteristic change in magnetic properties. For Sr1-xCexFe12-yO19-δ, with the iron content decreases, the magnetic properties continue to decrease at x = 0.03, increase first and then decrease at x = 0.1, and keep improving at x = 0.2. It is of reference significance to change the magnetic properties of strontium ferrites by adjusting the relationship between rare earth doping concentration and iron content.

Harnessing the potential of cube-like Holmium doped bismuth niobate (Ho–Bi5Nb3O15) amalgamated with rGO sheets for rapid photocatalytic elimination of crystal violet and acetylsalicylic acid

Synthesis of unique morphologies in photocatalytic materials, coupled with utilization of wide-spectrum solar energy through rare earth doping, holds significant promise to maximize the potential of photocatalysts. Herein in, cube-like Holmium (Ho) doped Bi5Nb3O15 was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and integrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. As synthesized Ho–Bi5Nb3O15@rGO composite along its analogs i.e., Bi5Nb3O15 and Ho–Bi5Nb3O15 was characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, TGA, I–V, EIS, Mott-Schottky and photo-current measurements. Phase studies showed that crystallite size for Bi5Nb3O15, Ho–Bi5Nb3O15, and Ho–Bi5Nb3O15@rGO was 27.4, 25.5, and 13.5 nm, respectively. Optical analysis exhibited a reduction in the band gap in consequent to Ho doping from 2.54 to 2.19 eV for Ho–Bi5Nb3O15. Conductivity and photo-current measurements showed a remarkable increase in both electrical conductivity and photo-response of Ho–Bi5Nb3O15 upon its incorporation into rGO matrix, reaching maximum values of 1.72 × 10−2 S/m and 0.66 μA, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ho–Bi5Nb3O15@rGO was ensured through the outstanding photo-degradation efficiency (96.5 %) against crystal violet (CV), greater than Bi5Nb3O15 (49 %) and Ho–Bi5Nb3O15 (63.4 %). Additionally, Ho–Bi5Nb3O15@rGO showed sufficient potential towards the degradation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) with 79.1 % photo-degradation. This elevated photocatalytic activity of Ho–Bi5Nb3O15@rGO is believed to be contributed by the collaborative outcomes aroused from the Ho-doping and heterojunction fabrication among cubical Ho–Bi5Nb3O15 and rGO sheets. Hence, our work proposes an efficient strategy for the development of innovative photolytic materials for sustainable wastewater remediation.

The influence mechanism of high-valence rare earth element doping on the thermoelectric properties of ZnO

The influence mechanism of high-valence rare earth element doping on the thermoelectric properties of ZnO

Enhancement of comprehensive properties of Nb–Si based in-situ composites by Ho rare earth doping

Enhancement of comprehensive properties of Nb–Si based in-situ composites by Ho rare earth doping

Preparation and sensing performance study in ultra-wide temperature range of K3LuF6:Er3+,Yb3+ up-converting luminescent materials with cryolite structure

Cryolite-type materials have advantages of low phonon energy, easy rare-earth ion doping, and stable physicochemical properties, and they are considered ideal matrices for up-converting luminescent materials. In this paper, a series of K3LuF6:Er3+,Yb3+ up-converting materials with cryolite structure were prepared for the first time by high-temperature solid-phase method. The compositions, structures and luminescent properties were systematically characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy (PL). Under 980 nm excitation, the sample emission spectra mainly consisted of green and red emission bands with peaks at 525, 546 and 662 nm, corresponding to the 2H11/2-4I15/2, 4S3/2-4I15/2 and 4F9/2-4I15/2 electron transitions of Er3+, respectively. In addition, the temperature sensing characteristics of two thermally coupled energy levels (2H2/11 and 4S3/2) were studied based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique in the range of 79–579 K. All the results show that K3LuF6:Er3+/Yb3+ up-converting luminescent materials have excellent temperature sensing performance in the ultra-wide temperature range and have broad application prospects in the field of temperature sensing.