White Light Research Articles

Nanoarchitectonics of vanadium nanoparticles decorated mesoporous carbon nitride in photocatalytic systems: A study on ethylbenzene oxidation reaction

In this work, we have described the synthesis of vanadium (V) nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (V@mpg-C3N4) and their uses in photocatalytic ethylbenzene oxidation to the respective acetophenones. The mpg-C3N4 serves as the support for the decoration of V NPs, through a simple impregnation method. Various advanced techniques, such as XRD, UV–vis spectrometry, HRTEM, HAADF-STEM, AC-STEM, elemental mapping, and BET surface area analysis, were employed for the characterization of V@mpg-C3N4. The detailed characterization studies reveal that the V@mpg-C3N4 catalyst has a medium band gap (2.78 eV), a high surface area (76.7 m2g−1), and a mesoporous nature. The V@mpg-C3N4 photocatalysts demonstrated excellent performance in the light-assisted oxidation of ethylbenzene, achieving over 99 % conversion and selectivity for acetophenone in an environmentally friendly solvent (water) using a domestic light source (50 W white light). This developed synthesis strategy will be useful for synthesizing various noble and non-noble metal-based catalysts and their applications in organic transformation and environmental remediation.

Effect of Substrate Bias on the Structure and Tribological Performance of (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy Coatings Deposited via Graphite Co-Sputtering

In the existing literature, there are few studies on the effect of deposition bias on the tribological properties of carbon-doped high-entropy alloy coatings. In order to further study the effect of the deposition bias on the properties of coatings, (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy coatings were deposited via unbalanced RF magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and tribological properties of carbon-doped high-entropy alloy ceramic coatings under different deposition biases were studied. The composition, morphology, crystal structure, and chemical morphology of each element of the coating were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hardness, elastic modulus, friction, and wear properties of the coating were further characterized using a nanoindentation instrument, reciprocating sliding friction, a wear tester, and a white light interferometer. The coating density reached the optimal level when the deposition bias value was 90 V. The hardness and elastic modulus of the (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy coating increased first and then decreased with an increase in deposition bias, and the maximum hardness was 23.98 GPa. When the deposition bias was 90 V, the coating formed a good-quality carbon transfer film on the surface of the counterbody due to sp2 clusters during the friction and wear process. The average friction coefficient and wear rate of the (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy coating were the lowest, 0.185 and 1.6 × 10−7 mm3/N·m, respectively. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological performance of the (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy coating were greatly affected by the change in deposition bias, and an (AlTiVCrNb)CxNy coating with excellent structure and friction properties could be prepared using graphite co-sputtering.

Functional light diffusers based on hybrid CsPbBr3/SiO2 aero-framework structures for laser light illumination and conversion

The new generation of laser-based solid-state lighting (SSL) white light sources requires new material systems capable of withstanding, diffusing, and converting high intensity laser light. State-of-the-art systems use a blue light emitting diode or laser diode in combination with color conversion materials, such as yellow emitting Ce-doped phosphors or red and green emitting quantum dots (QD), to produce white light. However, for laser-based high-brightness illumination thermal management and uniform light diffusion are still major challenges in the quest to convert a highly focused laser beam into an efficient lighting solution. Here, we present a material system consisting of a highly open porous (> 99%) framework structure of hollow SiO2 microtubes. This framework structure enables efficient and uniform light distribution as well as ensuring good thermal management even at high laser powers of up to 5 W, while drastically reducing the speckle contrast. By further functionalizing the microtubes with halide perovskite QDs (SiO2@CsPbBr3 as model system) color conversion from UV to visible light is achieved. By depositing an ultrathin (~ 5.5 nm) film of poly(ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate) (pEGDMA) via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), the luminescent stability of the QDs against moisture is enhanced. The demonstrated hybrid material system paves the way for the design of advanced and functional laser light diffusers and converters that can meet the challenges associated with laser-based SSL applications.Graphical

Pure white emission full thermally activated delayed fluorescence organic light emitting diode with a supplementary emission layer

In addition to efficiency and lifetime, spectral stability, high color rendering index (CRI), and the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairag (CIE) coordinate close to the equi-energy white point (0.33, 0.33) are also important parameters for the development of white organic light emitting diodes (WOLEDs). However, how to realize these advantages at the same time is a challenge. In this paper, a series of white devices based on complementary color full thermally activated delayed fluorescence (full-TADF) emitters were fabricated with the aim to obtain WOLEDs with high color rendering index and CIE coordinate near the equi-energy white point. Through optimizing the doping concentration of the emitters, adding a supplementary emission layer, modifying the thickness of the main emission layer and the supplementary emission layer, the best device displays the CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.35) and the CRI of 86, exhibiting good white emission. The results in this paper may provide a feasible method for realizing complementary color full-TADF WOLEDs with pure white emission.

Thermal stable NaMgLaTeO6:Dy3+ double perovskite yellow phosphors for w-LEDs and latent fingerprint visualization

The novel Dy3+-doped NaMgLaTeO6 (NaMgLaTeO6:Dy3+) phosphors were produced through a high-temperature solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Rietveld refinement manifest that the pure phosphor was committed to the space group (P21/m (11)) and features the double perovskite structure. The band gap (Eg) of the direct semiconductor NaMgLaTeO6 is calculated to be 2.065 eV. Under 388 nm excitation, the 4F9/2→6H13/2 energy level transition contributes to the maximum emission peak at 572 nm. Other properties of the phosphor include optimal concentration (x = 5 mol %), high thermal stability, activation energy (Ea = 0.31 eV), and internal quantum efficiency (IQE = 31.44 %). The relevant color coordinate of the white light emitting diode (w-LED) prepared by the phosphor is (0.298, 0.311). The features of the latent fingerprint (LFP) created by NaMgLaTeO6:Dy3+ can be clearly reflected on different surfaces. In summary, NaMgLaTeO6:Dy3+ phosphor has proven high potential in w-LEDs production and LFP detection.

Ultrabroad Near Infrared Emitting Perovskites

Phosphor converted light emitting diodes (pc‐LEDs) have revolutionized solid‐state white lighting by replacing energy‐inefficient filament‐based incandescent lamps. However, such a pc‐LED emitting ultrabroad near‐infrared (NIR) radiations still remains a challenge, primarily because of the lack of ultrabroad NIR emitting phosphors. To address this issue, we have prepared 2.5% W4+‐doped and 2.8% Mo4+‐doped Cs2Na0.95Ag0.05BiCl6 perovskites emitting ultrabroad NIR radiation with unprecedented spectral widths of 434 and 468 nm, respectively. Upon band‐edge excitation, the soft lattice of the host exhibits broad self‐trapped exciton (STE) emission covering NIR‐I (680 nm), which then nonradiatively excites the dopants. The π‐donor ligand Cl⁻ reduces the energy of dopant d‐d transitions emitting NIR‐II with a peak at ~950 nm. Vibronic coupling broadens the dopant emission. The large spin‐orbit coupling and local structural distortion might possibly enhance the dopant emission intensity, leading to an overall NIR photoluminescence quantum yield ~40%. The composite of our ultrabroad NIR phosphors with biodegradable polymer polylactic acid could be processed into free‐standing films and 3D printed structures. Large (170 × 170 mm2), robust, and thermally stable 3D printed pc‐LED panels emit ultrabroad NIR radiation, demonstrating NIR imaging applications.

Ultrabroad Near Infrared Emitting Perovskites.

Phosphor converted light emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) have revolutionized solid-state white lighting by replacing energy-inefficient filament-based incandescent lamps. However, such a pc-LED emitting ultrabroad near-infrared (NIR) radiations still remains a challenge, primarily because of the lack of ultrabroad NIR emitting phosphors. To address this issue, we have prepared 2.5 % W4+-doped and 2.8 % Mo4+-doped Cs2Na0.95Ag0.05BiCl6 perovskites emitting ultrabroad NIR radiation with unprecedented spectral widths of 434 and 468 nm, respectively. Upon band-edge excitation, the soft lattice of the host exhibits broad self-trapped exciton (STE) emission covering NIR-I (700 nm), which then nonradiatively excites the dopants. The -donor ligand Cl- reduces the energy of dopant d-d transitions emitting NIR-II with a peak at ~950 nm. Vibronic coupling broadens the dopant emission. The large spin-orbit coupling and local structural distortion might possibly enhance the dopant emission intensity, leading to an overall NIR photoluminescence quantum yield ~40 %. The composite of our ultrabroad NIR phosphors with biodegradable polymer polylactic acid could be processed into free-standing films and 3D printed structures. Large (170 170 ), robust, and thermally stable 3D printed pc-LED panels emit ultrabroad NIR radiation, demonstrating NIR imaging applications.

Synthesis and properties research of Dy3+-Eu3+ co-doped BBiBaZ luminescent glass for white LED applications

A series of BBiBaZ luminescent glasses with different concentrations of Dy3+ doping and Dy3+-Eu3+ co-doping was planned by the high-temperature melt method. Their structure, chemical stability, glowing properties, energy transfer, and temperature-dependent emission spectra were also investigated. Under various monitor wavelengths, the visible emitted spectrum of the Dy3+-Eu3+ co-doping luminescent glass was obtained. The presence of Dy3+→Eu3+ energy transfer in the glass was demonstrated by emission spectra and fluorescence decay curve analyses. At the excitation of 384 nm, better white color emitting was noticed in BBiBaZ glass doped with Dy2O3 doping concentration of 0.75 mol% and doped with 0.4 mol% Eu2O3 with a CIE of (0.3306, 0.342), and the glass has an ΔE of 0.221 eV, which suggests that the synthesis glass has the prospective to be applied in white light solid-state lighting. In addition, the Dy3+-Eu3+ co-doped BBiBaZ glass could achieve tunable emission moving from cooling white to heating white to an orange-red light under 390 nm excitation. The adjustable range of the glass’s CCT values has been expanded, allowing for arbitrary tuning between approximately 2004–6380 K, which adapts to different application fields.

Origin of the Nonlinear Optical Response in Organotetrel Molecules, (Hetero)adamantane-Type Clusters with Organic Substituents, and Related Species.

The nonlinear optical response of (hetero)adamantane-type clusters and organotetrel molecules with the general formula [(RT)4E6] and [TR4] (T = group 14, R = organic substituents, E = S, CH2) is investigated from first principles. These clusters have been reported to efficiently convert infrared radiation into white light and are therefore extremely attractive functional materials for a multitude of applications. We demonstrate that the optical nonlinearities of the clusters in the range from 0 to 3 eV have their origin in electronic transitions within the substituents. The cluster core does not directly take part to the generation process; however, it strongly affects the intensity of the linear and nonlinear response. The relationships between optical properties and cluster symmetry, stoichiometry, substituent field, core composition, and further structural characteristics are investigated by systematical variation of R and T. This also demonstrates the possibility to finely tune the intensity as well as the frequency dependence of the optical response. Upon formation of cluster dimers, the intensity of the nonlinearities depends on the overall dimer geometry. In the case of heterogeneous dimers, the optical response strongly resembles that of a dominant cluster. Similarly, upon formation of cluster crystals, the compound inherits the optical characteristics of the parent molecules.

Structure Evolution and Optical Tuning of One-Dimensional Post-perovskite (TDMP)PbBr4 under High Pressure.

Optimizing the structure and tuning the optical properties in low-dimensional organic-inorganic halide perovskites are crucial to practical applications for stable solid-state lighting. Herein, we performed high-pressure investigations on one-dimensional (1D) postperovskite (TDMP)PbBr4 (TDMP = trans-2,5-dimethylpiperaziniium), and structure and optical properties under pressure are studied. (TDMP)PbBr4 exhibits color tunable emission from cool white light to yellow orange as the pressure increases from atmospheric pressure to 20.0 GPa. It was found that high pressure would facilitate trapping the free exciton (free exciton) to form a self-trapped exciton (STE) state due to increased electron-phonon interaction, thus enhancing STE emission in the pressure range of 4.0-7.0 GPa. At above 7.0 GPa, the STE emission is quenched, which is due to the phonon-assisted nonradiative relaxation. Meanwhile, (TDMP)PbBr4 displays reversible piezochromism from colorless to yellow under pressure as a result of the compound undergoing a reversible structural transformation. This work provides an insightful perspective on revealing the relationship between structure and optical properties of 1D postperovskites under high pressure.

Imidazole-stabilized gold nanoclusters as photocatalytic initiator and crosslinker to fabricate functional hydrogel

Photopolymerization is the most widely used method to fabricate hydrogels, which hold great potentials in various fields including biomedical applications, electronic skin and flexible wearable devices. Herein, gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were employed as both efficient photo-initiators and crosslinkers to prepare polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels with good mechanical properties. Firstly, an imidazole-based monomer, ImPAA, was designed and synthesized, serving as an reducing agent and ligand to prepare imidazole-stabilized AuNCs (AuNC@ImPAA) in water. Under white light irradiation, AuNC@ImPAA efficiently initiated the radical polymerization of acrylamide monomers in water via a photocatalytic mechanism. The abundant vinyl groups on the surface of AuNC@ImPAA enabled its role as a multiple covalent crosslinker, endowing the resulting hydrogel with impressive mechanical properties. The maximum tensile strength and fracture strain was 287 kPa and 591 %, respectively. Moreover, triggered by UV light, the embedded AuNC@ImPAA within the hydrogel aggregated and converted into gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), yielding an AuNP/PAM hydrogel. This hybrid AuNP/PAM hydrogel exhibited a good photothermal conversion performance, with an efficiency of 14.14 % under 660 nm laser irradiation, and its potential as a photothermal actuator was demonstrated. Thus, we provide a facile light-mediated strategy to fabricate functional hydrogel.

The dual-band emissions, multicolor continuous mechanochromisms, and application based on a single luminogen

Currently, the high contrast and multicolor continuous mechanochromic materials still face a great challenge. Here, a novel D-π-A type luminogen named as CzIPCN, was successfully constructed. By solvent diffusion method, crystals YC, BT, RE, and RA were obtained, not only covering a large-span emission from blue to red, but also showing scare dual band emission. Interesting, the blue BT and yellow YC have similar intermolecular π-π stacking interactions and significantly different emission maxima, while two emission maxima of the RE and RA appear at the similar frequency but with different intensity ratios. More interesting, emission maxima of BT present tiny shifts before/after grinding, but RE and RA show very low mechanical force thresholds in mechanochromism, and yield significant color contrasts and wavelength shifts (＞100 nm). Under both light&hard crushing and grinding, YC presents multicolor continuous mechanochromism. Additionally, CzIPCN not only shows pH-dependent fluorescence emission but also white light emission in a DCM-TFA mixture. Finally, high-level anti-counterfeiting patterns controlled by different mechanical forces were successfully constructed. It is worth mentioning that this is the first report on multiple anti-counterfeiting patterns using a single luminogen.

Epitaxially Growing 2D RGB Trichromatic Cocrystal Nanomeshes to Trigger Cross‐Modulation White Light Emission

Comprehensive SummaryConsidering their oriented crystalline structure and high luminescent efficiency, the exploration of multi‐component organic cocrystal systems with tunable supramolecular nanostructures and potential RGB light emission has emerged as a captivating but challenging subject. Here, we propose a straightforward synthetic strategy to precisely govern the assembly, structure and structure‐property relationship of organic cocrystals. By employing the single‐crystalline template‐assisted epitaxial growth (SCT‐EG) method, the two‐dimensional (2D) highly‐aligned cocrystal nanomeshes are firstly developed to afford an exceptional RGB trichromatic system, triggering cross‐modulation white light emission (WLE) with remarkable stability and regeneration capacity over six months. The transformation from random 1D microstructures to uniformly‐oriented 2D nanomeshes can be attributed to the regulatory competitive intermolecular π‐π, CT interactions, and partial H bond interactions among cocrystals. Moreover, the successful construction of 2D RGB trichromatic cocrystal nanomeshes system holds promise to generate full‐color display, which can function as multicolor inks for photonic dynamic recognition, information encryption, and decryption.

Designing a high-efficiency broadband cyan phosphor for low-blue full-spectrum LED lighting

Efficient cyan-emitting phosphor plays an important role in the development of solid-state lighting, which is indispensable to filling the cyan gap for full-spectrum warm-white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) with high color rendering index (CRI). Herein, a novel highly efficient broadband cyan phosphor Ce3+-doped Ca3HfAl2Si2O12 (CHASO: Ce3+) garnet compound was developed by the substitution of Lu3+-Al3+ with Ca2+-Hf4+/Si4+ in Lu3Al5O12. The crystal structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of CHASO: Ce3+ were investigated in detail. Notably, CHASO: Ce3+ phosphor can be effectively excited by violet light (390 – 430 nm) and exhibited bright cyan emissions around 490 nm with high PL internal quantum yields of 89.2 %. Moreover, the integrated PL intensity of the phosphor at 423 K was 66.3 % of that at room temperature. Finally, by incorporating CHASO: 11 %Ce3+ with commercial blue/yellow/red phosphor onto a violet LED chip (400 nm), the prototype full-spectrum WLEDs device exhibits warm white light with high color rendering index (CRI, Ra and R9 > 90) and low correlated color temperature 3301 K. These results suggest the highly efficient phosphor CHASO: Ce3+ is promising for low-blue full-spectrum healthy lighting.

Variability in oil droplet numbers and proportions in the retinas of anole lizards

Colored oil droplets are a common feature in the cones of almost all diurnal lizards. Using white light microscopy, three chromotypes of droplet can be identified in anoles – yellow, green and colorless. These droplets have been associated with different cone classes using microspectrophotometry. The principal member of double cones contain a yellow droplet while the accessory member contains a diffuse yellow pigment. Both members contain the LWS visual pigment. One class of large single cone contains a yellow droplet and the LWS visual pigment. The two remaining classes of large single cone contain the green droplet and either the LWS or MWS visual pigment. As such, by noting the distribution and numbers of the different droplet chromotypes, information about cone distribution, type, and number can be deduced microscopically. Retinas from three anole species (A. cristatellus, A. sagrei, and A. carolinensis) were isolated, flattened and oriented using the two foveae as landmarks. A 19-gauge needle was used to punch out six full-thickness retinal disks from identical retinal regions from both eyes of the three species. The different oil droplets were microscopically identified by color and counted. In all three species at all six retinal areas, the colorless droplets associated with the UVS and SWS single cones represented approximately 10% of the total droplets counted. However, the proportions of the yellow and green droplets were significantly different between the species. For A. cristatellus, 80% of the droplets were green while 10% were yellow. For A. sagrei approximately 85% of the droplets were yellow while only 5% were green. For A. carolinensis 50% of the droplets were yellow while 40% were green. The possible significance of these variable proportions is discussed in terms of possible effects on color vision and ecotype of the three anoles.

Terpyridine-Based Metal-Organic Cage with Enhanced Emission via Coordination-Induced Rigidity.

Realizing the regulation of photophysical properties by precisely controlling the molecular composition and configuration, thereby obtaining high-performance optical materials, remains of great significance. Due to the directionality and reversibility of the coordination bond, coordination-driven self-assembly endows the molecule with customized thermodynamically stable structures and desired properties. In this paper, a luminous metal-organic cage [Zn12L6] (S) was elaborately designed and quantitatively synthesized by self-assembly of tetrapodal TQPP chromophore-containing terpyridine ligand L with Zn2+. Complex S possessed a rigid cage-like structure, which endows a higher fluorescence quantum efficiency both in solution (∼88%) and neat solid (16%) than the corresponding ligand L. Further, using complex S as the photoactive component, two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were successfully fabricated and the emission of pure white light (CIE coordinates: 0.3341, 0.3300) was achieved. These results afford a method to obtain enhanced luminescence performance via the formation of rigid coordination-driven supramolecular architectures.

The impact of light adjustment versus tuneable white mode on ICU staff’s circadian rhythms

ABSTRACT The significance of lighting design in intensive care units (ICUs) for healthcare professionals’ demanding work and its profound impact on health, visual comfort and overall well-being cannot be overstated. This study investigates the potential of controlling luminous flux and spectral characteristics to enhance ICU lighting environments. It aims to determine whether modifying the lighting spectrum positively affects health without compromising visual comfort and colour discrimination. Two distinct LED lighting configurations were tested. The first adjusted only light levels, providing insights into staff responses. The second used tuneable white lighting, allowing changes in spectral content and colour temperature throughout shifts, resembling natural light variations. Effects were assessed via subjective perception surveys and objective colour rendering tests. Physiological impacts were evaluated through urine and blood samples, analysing melatonin suppression and cortisol levels, crucial for regulating rhythms and stress. Results offer valuable insights into lighting’s impact on ICU occupants’ well-being, highlighting the potential benefits of spectral adjustments while maintaining visual comfort and colour discrimination. This holistic approach to lighting design in critical care settings emphasizes the importance of balancing health benefits with lighting quality.

Novel Tm3+/Dy3+ co-doped CaMoO4 transparent glass-ceramic phosphor for white LED applications

To develop new inorganic luminescent materials, a set of Dy3+/Tm3+ co-doped molybdate precursor glasses (PGs) were manufactured using the conventional melting method, and a novel CaMoO4 transparent fluorescent glass-ceramic (GC700-2 h) was achieved via controlled crystallization of PG at 700 ℃ for 2 h. The luminescent color of the glass phosphor was facilely modulated by varying the doping levels of Dy3+ and Tm3+. The glass phosphor with optimal doping concentration of 0.6Dy3+ and 0.6Tm3+ exhibits a color coordinate of (0.3334, 0.3107). Compared with PG, the luminous intensity and quantum yield of GC700-2 h sample is obviously increased, and GC720-2 h sample displays the color coordinate (0.3292, 0.2852), belonging to the standard white light region. Moreover, GC720-2 h sample possesses good thermal stability in fluorescence property. The white LED lamp encapsulated with GC720-2 h exhibits color temperature of 7564 K and color rendering index of 75.3. These results clearly show that the 0.6Dy3+/0.6Tm3+ co-doped glass and CaMoO4 glass-ceramic could be used as potential candidate material in the field of white light-emitting diodes.

Novel synthesis organic–inorganic heterojunctions of protonated g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgBr/AgCl/AgI quinary magnetic photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in water

A novel magnetic quinary nanocomposite, protonated g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgBr/AgCl/AgI, was synthesized using a wet chemical method. The multi-heterojunction photocatalyst with multi-carrier source and multi-channel carrier transport is constructed to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance of pure g-C3N4. The design of the quinary nanocomposite is also an effective approach to solve the chemical stability problem of silver halides. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency under visible light irradiation was analyzed for methylene blue (MB) as the target organic pollutant. The quinary nanocomposite with 10 % g-C3N4 displayed high photocatalytic performance, with 83 % of MB degraded under 6 h LED white light irradiation. The effective quinary nanocomposite has good magnetic properties and can be magnetically separated to prevent secondary pollution of the photocatalyst in water. Parameters such as initial concentration of pollutant, initial solution pH, and light source were studied. Zeta potential results showed that the quinary nanocomposite could disperse homogenously to decrease aggregation in the solution. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was investigated, and the mineralization results were analyzed based on liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and total organic carbon (TOC). It was found that the hydroxyl and superoxide radicals were major reactive species by scavenging experiments. Additionally, protonated g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgBr/AgCl/AgI nanocomposite showed excellent reusability after magnetic separation and regeneration, thus suggesting it to be a promising photocatalyst for treating wastewater containing organic contaminants.

Correction: Comprehensive study of trivalent Dy3 + ions-incorporated zinc phosphate glasses for white light emission in solid-state photonic devices

Correction: Comprehensive study of trivalent Dy3 + ions-incorporated zinc phosphate glasses for white light emission in solid-state photonic devices