Synthesis and Luminescence of Lanthanide Ions in Nanoscale Insulating Hosts

Abstract

This review summarizes recent work in nanostructured insulating materials that contain optically active lanthanide ions. These materials find applications in lasers, optical amplifiers, and optical-display phosphors. This review concentrates on the synthesis and luminescence spectroscopy of lanthanide-containing nanostructured particles, films, and composites. Spectroscopic studies range from basic luminescence spectroscopy and quantum efficiency measurements to high-resolution spectroscopic studies that investigate the phonon dynamics and electron−phonon interaction as a function of particle size. This review identifies several areas for further study, including the location, distribution, or segregation of dopants in nanoparticles; the efficiency of energy transfer across interfaces; and the effects of quantum confinement or changes in phonon dynamics and electron−phonon interactions on the radiative and nonradiative relaxation rates in localized luminescent dopants.

Quantum confinement effect on Gd2O3 clusters

“…For the unannealed sample and the sample annealed below 425°C the spectra ͑not shown for clarity͒ resemble those reported in the literature as "cubic disordered" samples. 14 On the other hand for higher annealing temperatures, the spectra correspond to the bulk cubic phase Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ . However, one can note a small broadening of the different emission peaks clearly inversely correlated to the size.…”

“…Investigating and understanding these materials are not only of academic interest but also of technological importance for advanced phosphor and photonic applications and many studies have already been devoted to study the luminescence of this kind of materials [10][11][12][13][14][15] The manuscript is divided in four sections; the first one presents the method of synthesis as well as the different structural characterizations that we performed. The second part is devoted to the study of the growth of the particles through different annealing steps and the corresponding structural characterization.…”

Synthesis, structural investigation and luminescence spectroscopy of nanocrystalline Gd3Ga5O12 doped with lanthanide ions

“…Single crystals of Nd 3+ -and Yb 3+ -doped gadolinium gallium garnet Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 (GGG) have been studied for their possible application as active elements for diode pumped lasers [1][2][3]. On the other hand, lanthanide-doped nanostructured materials have gained importance for possible applications as imaging or display devices in which the resolution is inversely related to the particle size [4,5]. The luminescence properties have been investigated for Pr 3+ -, Ho 3+ -and Er 3+ -doped GGG nanocrystalline powders prepared by a combustion synthesis [6,7]; these materials appear to show efficient visible upconversion emission after excitation with IR radiation.…”

Characterization of Nanoporous Lanthanide-Doped Gadolinium Gallium Garnet Powders Obtained by Propellant Synthesis

“…The optical and electronic properties of nanocrystalline materials differ from those of the bulk samples and can be influenced by the particle size [2]. To produce materials with the desired nanostructure many different techniques have been employed like pulsed laser deposition [3], combustion [4], propellant [5] or wet chemical [6] synthesis.…”