Synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of bis[2,6-difluoro-3-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridine-κN](trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)silver(I)

In the title compound, [Ag(CF3SO3)(C10H6F2N2)2], the AgI centre adopts a highly distorted trigonal–planar coordination environment resulting from its coordination by one O atom of the trifluoromethanesulfonate anion and the pyridine N atoms of two crystallographically independent 2′,6′-difluoro-2,3′-bipyridine ligands, which display very similar conformations to one another. Pairwise Ag...O–SO2CF3 − [Ag...O = 2.8314 (14) Å] interactions and intermolecular C—H...O interactions between inversion-related units lead to the formation of an eight-membered cyclic dimer in which the silver atoms are separated by 6.2152 (3) Å. In the crystal, the dimers are linked through C—H...O hydrogen bonds, halogen...π and weak π–π stacking interactions, resulting in the formation of a three-dimensional supramolecular network. The title compound exhibits a strong and broad emission band from 400 nm to 550 nm in solution and its photoluminescence quantum efficiency is estimated to be ca 0.2, indicating that the title compound could have applications as an emitting material in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Luminescent Properties of a Novel Mn2+ doped 3CaO-CaF2-2SiO2 Glasses

The transition metal Mn2+ ions doped materials have been widely reported for the luminescent properties for its broad emission band from green to red due to the spin-forbidden 4T1→6A1 transitions. To investigate the luminescent properties of Mn2+ ions in cuspidine glass, the 3CaO-CaF2-2SiO2 glasses doped with different Mn2+ concentration were prepared with traditional melt-quenching method. The luminescence emission spectra, excitation spectra and luminescence decay curves were recorded and analyzed. The tunable broadband emission from orange to red was obtained. The luminescence intensity and lifetime of Mn2+: 4T1 level showed different quenching points with the increasing of Mn2+ concentration. All these results indicate that Mn2+ doped 3CaO-CaF2-2SiO2 glass could be applied as light conversion material for solid-state lighting applications.

Optical Properties of CaNb2O6 Single Crystals Grown by OFZ*

CaNb2O6 single crystals with an orthorhombic columbite structure are grown via an optical floating zone (OFZ) method. The as-grown crystals are colorless and free of low-angle grain boundaries and inclusions. They are transparent (up to 62%) in the visible to the infrared region (400–1000 nm) and have a low absorption coefficient (α = 1.56). The bandgap is determined as a direct transition and Eg = 4.28 eV. The wavelength-dependent refractive index and extinction coefficient of the CaNb2O6 crystals are derived from the obtained T and α spectra. Their photoluminescence spectra exhibit a strong and broad emission band centered at 465 nm.

Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Eu3+-Doped Na2YMg2V3O12: A Novel Red-Emitting Phosphor for White-Light-Emitting Diodes

The fabrication and luminescent properties of novel Na2YMg2V3O12:Eu3+ phosphors produced by conventional solid-state reactions were investigated. Self-activated emission of the Na2YMg2V3O12 host produces a broad emission band ranging from 400 to 700 nm with a maximum peak at 530 nm, ascribed to the charge transfer in the (VO4)3− groups. Excitation with near-UV (365 nm) light causes the Na2YMg2V3O12:Eu3+ phosphors to emit bright red light, including both the broad emission band of the (VO4)3− groups and the sharp emission peaks of Eu3+ ions. At a quenching concentration of 0.03 mol, the Eu3+ ion emission peaks were located at 597, 613, 654 and 710 nm. As-prepared Na2YMg2V3O12:Eu3+ phosphors also exhibited stable emission at high temperatures. Furthermore, a designed and packaged white-light-emitting diode (WLED) lamp, including the obtained phosphors, commercial (Ba,Sr)2SiO4:Eu2+ green phosphors, BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphors and a near-ultraviolet (n-UV) chip, emitted bright white light with a good chromaticity coordinate of (0.3068, 0.3491), a satisfactory colour rendering index of 88.20 and a properly correlated colour temperature of 4460.52 K. These results indicate the potential of this Na2YMg2V3O12:Eu3+ phosphor as a red-emitting phosphor for solid-state illumination.

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridine-Grafted Copolymers of Acrylic Acid–Styrene Derivatives for Antimicrobial and Fluorescence Applications

The goal of the present study was to copolymerize 3-(4-acetylphenylcarbamoyl) acrylic acid and styrene using azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a catalyst. The resulting copolymers exhibited number average molecular weights (Mn) of 3.73–5.23 × 104 g/mol with a variable polydispersity (PDI = 2.3–3.8). The amide group of the PMA/PSA polymer was used for grafting poly (-styrene-maleic acid substituted aromatic 2-aminopyridine) by the Hantzsch reaction using a substituted aromatic aldehyde, malononitrile, and ammonium acetate. The polymer can emit strong blue fluorescence (λ = 510 nm) and its thermal stability and solubility were enhanced by polymer grafting. Moreover, the polymer showed the fluorescence spectra of the copolymer had a strong, broad emission band between 300 to 550 nm (maximum wavelength 538 nm) under excitation at 293 nm. The Hantzsch reaction yields an interesting class of nitrogen-based heterocycles that combine with a synthetic strategy for synthesis of grafted co-polymer pyridine-styrene derivatives. The as-prepared pyridine-based polymer compounds were screened against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, where a maximum inhibition zone toward all four types of bacteria was observed, including specific antifungal activity. Herein, a series of pyridine compounds were synthesized that showed enhanced fluorescent properties and antimicrobial properties due to their unique structure and ability to form polymer assemblies.

Influence of Colloidal Au on the Growth of ZnO Nanostructures

Vapor-liquid-solid processes allow growing high-quality nanowires from a catalyst. An alternative to the conventional use of catalyst thin films, colloidal nanoparticles offer advantages not only in terms of cost, but also in terms of controlling the location, size, density, and morphology of the grown nanowires. In this work, we report on the influence of different parameters of a colloidal Au nanoparticle suspension on the catalyst-assisted growth of ZnO nanostructures by a vapor-transport method. Modifying colloid parameters such as solvent and concentration, and growth parameters such as temperature, pressure, and Ar gas flow, ZnO nanowires, nanosheets, nanotubes and branched-nanowires can be grown over silica on silicon and alumina substrates. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals the high-crystal quality of the ZnO nanostructures obtained. The photoluminescence results show a predominant emission in the ultraviolet range corresponding to the exciton peak, and a very broad emission band in the visible range related to different defect recombination processes. The growth parameters and mechanisms that control the shape of the ZnO nanostructures are here analyzed and discussed. The ZnO-branched nanowires were grown spontaneously through catalyst migration. Furthermore, the substrate is shown to play a significant role in determining the diameters of the ZnO nanowires by affecting the surface mobility of the metal nanoparticles.

Nanocrystalline α-Fe2O3: A Superparamagnetic Material for w-LED Application and Waste Water Treatment

Nanocrystalline α-Fe2O3 is synthesized by sol-gel technique. The prepared nanomaterial was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, TEM, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of α-Fe2O3. Electron microscopy showed spherical morphologies with an average particle size of 30-40 nm. The magnetic property of the prepared material was studied by VSM at room temperature. VSM study shows superparamagnetic nature of the synthesized nanoparticles. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra show intense broad emission band centered at 570 nm with 393 nm excitation indicating its usefulness for w-LED application. The CIE-chromaticity color coordinates of prepared material were calculated. The photocatalytic activity of the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was analyzed and the nanopowder exhibited good photocatalytic activity for the removal AO7 from its aqueous solution.

MoS2@ZnO Nanoheterostructures Prepared by Electrospark Erosion for Photocatalytic Applications

MoS2@ZnO nanoheterostructures were synthesized by electrospark erosion of zinc granules in a hydrogen peroxide solution and simultaneous addition of MoS2 nanostructured powder into the reaction zone. The morphology, size of the crystallites, as well as elemental and phase composition of the prepared structures, were examined using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that the synthesized products represent heterostructures containing MoS2 nanoparticles formed on ZnO nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence analysis were also used for characterization of the prepared heterostructures. The obtained MoS2@ZnO nanostructures revealed an intense broad emission band ranging from 425 to 625 nm for samples with different fractions of MoS2. Photocatalytic measurements showed that the maximal hydrogen evolution rate of the prepared nanoheterostructures was about 906.6 μmolg−1h−1.The potential of their application in photocatalytic water splitting was also estimated.

LaCO3OH Nanoprisms and Their Luminescence and NO Reduction Properties

In this work, single-crystalline large-scale LaCO3OH nanoprism morphologies were synthesized by controlling La and Ca molar ratio and the hydrothermal reaction conditions. The nanoprism morphologies of LaCO3OH were unique in nature with a sharp corner and smooth surfaces. The hydrothermal reaction was carried out in the absence of organic additives or templates and (NH4)2CO3 was used as a precipitation agent. The molar ratio of La:Ca was varied over the following values (the sample shorthand is given in parentheses): 75:25 mol% (LC-1), 50:50 mol% (LC-2), and 25:75 mol% (LC-3). Phase-pure LaCO3OH nanoprisms formed at a La:Ca molar ratio of 75:25 mol% without any assistance of catalysts or template. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-synthesized powders showed one broad emission band centered at 394 nm after excitation of the pure LC-3 LaCO3OH nanoprisms at λ = 280 nm. The PL intensities were decreased in the order of LC-1 < LC-2< LC-3. The LC-1 and LC-2 samples had almost the same PL intensities probably due to their unique and smooth particle morphology. The calcination result of three samples treated for two hours at 800 °C, shows a reduction in NO activities over highly distributed CaO comprising La2O3. Further, under the presence of H2O and O2 vapor, CaO comprising La2O3 catalysts shows higher stability for the reduction of NO with CH4.

Yellow Emission Obtained by Combination of Broadband Emission and Multi-Peak Emission in Garnet Structure Na2YMg2V3O12: Dy3+ Phosphor

The fabrication and luminescent performance of novel phosphors Na2YMg2V3O12:Dy3+ were investigated by a conventional solid-state reaction method. Under near-UV light, the Na2YMg2V3O12 host self-activated and released a broad emission band (400–700 nm, with a peak at 524 nm) ascribable to charge transfer in the (VO4)3− groups. Meanwhile, the Na2YMg2V3O12:Dy3+ phosphors emitted bright yellow light within both the broad emission band of the (VO4)3- groups and the sharp peaks of the Dy3+ ions at 490, 582, and 663 nm at a quenching concentration of 0.03 mol. The emission of the as-prepared Na2YMg2V3O12:Dy3+ phosphors remained stable at high temperatures. The obtained phosphors, commercial Y2O3:Eu3+ red phosphors, and BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphors were packed into a white light-emitting diode (WLED) device with a near-UV chip. The designed WLED emitted bright white light with good chromaticity coordinates (0.331, 0.361), satisfactory color rendering index (80.2), and proper correlation to a color temperature (7364 K). These results indicate the potential utility of Na2YMg2V3O12:Dy3+ phosphor as a yellow-emitting phosphor in solid-state illumination.