Nanotechnology has been increasingly employed in forensic science for the detection of latent fingerprints, using multiple techniques from new aluminium nanomaterials for dusting to quantum dot dispersions, to try to increase and enhance areas where prints are likely to be found at scenes of crime. Different substrates use a diverse range of methods to develop prints when they are found and each method has its own drawbacks. It is not viable to use many of these techniques in conditions other than in a laboratory due to the harmful environmental effects they can cause over long term use. With this in mind a new easier to use technique that can be used on any substrate from wood to glass to paper was looked into. A range of nano-sized rare earth phosphor precursors were synthesised using homogeneous precipitation and solid state methods which were then converted to phosphors by firing at 980oC. Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped Y2O3, YVO4 and Y2O2S were chosen for their luminescent intensity. Analysis of each of the phosphors was carried out using multiple techniques and a single host lattice chosen for continuation. Y2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Tb3+ were coated using a modified Stöber process to try and decrease the agglomeration of particles as well as allowing for surface modification to take place. Modifications of the surface were prepared and analysed, and these particles were then used in multiple fingerprint examinations to examine the adherence on fingerprints of different ages. The surface modifications manifested great adherence to the fingerprint residue even after two weeks elapsed and showed great promise after a two year period.

X-ray imaging scintillators and detectors play a critical role in numerous everyday life applications, including medical radiography, high-energy physics research, and security inspections. Despite its importance, current X-ray imaging technologies are not fully equipped to meet the growing demands for flexible, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly solutions. To overcome the limitations associated with traditional imaging scintillators, recent research efforts have focused on developing lead-free luminescent materials. Of particular interest are Cu(I) complexes, which exhibit excellent photoluminescence behavior, a facile synthesis process, and a high atomic number, making them an ideal candidate for X-ray imaging applications. Our work focuses on developing a low-dimensional Cu(I) organometallic halide and utilizing it as an imaging scintillator for real-life X-ray imaging. By utilizing the 0D Cu(I)-based imaging scintillators, we successfully obtained detailed images of both biological and non-biological objects, with a low detection limit of 458.3 nGy/s and high resolution of 16.8 lp/mm. This study not only provides a design roadmap for Cu(I) luminescent materials, but also highlights their potential for high-impact real-life X-ray imaging applications. Overall, our findings represent a significant step forward for X-ray imaging technology and its widespread applications in fields such as medicine and security.

Conducting metallopolymers possess attractive electronic properties for use in sensors, photoelectronic devices, catalysts, and other applications. Modification of the conducting polymer backbone, through chemical or electrochemical methods, enables control of catalytic, electronic, and optical properties of the metal via inductive modulation of the electron density. Understanding in detail the relationship between the metal and polymer backbone could lead to more effective metallopolymer materials. We hope to study this relationship by probing the band gaps, excited state energy levels, catalytic activity, and sensor function in four metallopolymer systems. Devices with sub-stochiometric ratios of Cu2ZnSnS4 NPs (CZTS: (Cu2Sn)1-xZn1/xS)(0≥x≥0.75)) grown in Cu(II) conducting metallopolymers were produced to study band gap tuning in hybrid materials. The valence and conductance bands of CZTS (x = 0.60) aligned with the HOMO/LUMO of the Cu(II) metallopolymer. Changing the alignment facilitated charge transfer in the hybrid material, leading to photovoltaic materials with efficiencies of ~0.1%. Chemoresistive ionophore sensors were developed by incorporating selective binding groups, such as thiourea, into conducting polymer backbones. Thiourea monomers and polymers showed high selectivity for Pb(II) ions over many competitive ions. XPS experiments demonstrated that reversible chelation of Pb(II) ions could be achieved through a simple uptake/rinse process. The conductivity of the thiourea polymer increased fifty-fold, from 7.75×10−2 S/cm2 to 3.5 S/cm2, after Pb(II) exposure. Sensitivity measurements indicated the sensors have limits of detection near 10−10 M. Highly conjugated ligands were synthesized to explore effective sensitization of visible and near-IR emitting lanthanides. (3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene was appended to dipyridophenazine and dipyridoquinoxaline to introduce a group that could be easily electropolymerized. These bi-functional ligands emitted from π-π* and an inter-ligand charge transfer excited states, and therefore, two distinct triplet states were observed. These separate energy pathways allowed for efficient sensitization of both visible (Tb(III), Eu(III), Dy(III)) and near-IR emitting (Nd(III), Yb(III), Er(III)) ions. Finally, we explored the oxidation of a rhodium-containing conducting metallopolymer and the subsequent effect on the activity of the metal center. Oxidation of the backbone led to ancillary ligand attenuation, allowing for control of the catalytically active species in the conducting metallopolymer. Rh(I,III) monomer and metallopolymer catalytic studies showed potential for new heterogenous/homogeneous hybrid catalysts. / text

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:17:18Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 segura_df_me_araiq.pdf: 1112989 bytes, checksum: 57dcb9d71e40b067b4378bde80885bbe (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho fibras ópticas de PMMA foram preparadas a partir de amostras de PMMA disponíveis comercialmente. As amostras foram termoprensadas a uma temperatura de 230 ºC na forma de bastões homogêneos e livre de bolhas. Desses bastões foi possível obter preformas cilíndricas com diâmetro de aproximadamente 10 mm. Para a obtenção de fibras foi utilizado o método de puxamento de preforma em uma torre de puxamento de características industriais. O puxamento das fibras foi conseguido em temperaturas próximas a 200 ºC possibilitando a confecção de fibras de diâmetro entre 200 µm a 1000 µm, essas fibras possuem uma atenuação entre 23 dB/m e 13 dB/m respectivamente. Esses valores são superiores ao encontrado para uma fibra comercial que é de 4 dB/m. Numa segunda parte do trabalho um novo material híbrido orgânico inorgânico foi preparado, constituído de PMMA e nanopartículas inorgânicas luminescentes de vanadato de ítrio dopado com európio (YVO4:Eu). Para isso foi empregado dois métodos diferentes: a moagem conjunta do PMMA com as nanopartículas com a posterior termoprensagem dessa mistura e a suspensão em solvente, que consistia em solubilizar o PMMA em um solvente contendo uma suspensão das nanopartículas com a sua posterior secagem. Ambos os métodos produziram materiais transparentes e homogêneos. As propriedades espectroscópicas sugerem que a identidade das nanopartículas tenha sido preservada nos compósitos finais. Alguns ensaios de puxamento de fibras a partir dos compósitos foram realizados / In this work PMMA optical fibers were prepared from samples of commercially available PMMA. The samples were processed at 230 ºC to make rods homogeneous and without bubbles. With these rods was possible to obtain cylindrical preforms with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. The drawing of the fibers was achieved at temperatures around 200 ° C enabling the manufacture of fibers with diameters of 200 μm to 1000 μm these fibers have an attenuation between 23 dB/m and 13 dB/m respectively. These values are higher than found for a commercial fiber that is 4 dB/m. In a second part of the work a new organic inorganic hybrid material was prepared, consisting of PMMA and inorganic luminescent nanoparticles of yttrium vanadate doped with europium (YVO4:Eu). For this he was employed two different methods: the joint milling of PMMA nanoparticles with subsequent thermopressing the mixture and suspended in solvent, which was to solubilize the PMMA in a solvent containing a suspension of nanoparticles with subsequent drying. Both methods produced transparent and homogeneous materials. The spectroscopic properties suggest that the identity of nanoparticles has been preserved in the final composite. Some tests of pulling fiber from the composite were performed

Orientador: Sidney José Lima Ribeiro / Banca: Karim Dahmouche / Banca: Bluma Guenther Soares / Resumo: Neste trabalho fibras ópticas de PMMA foram preparadas a partir de amostras de PMMA disponíveis comercialmente. As amostras foram termoprensadas a uma temperatura de 230 ºC na forma de bastões homogêneos e livre de bolhas. Desses bastões foi possível obter preformas cilíndricas com diâmetro de aproximadamente 10 mm. Para a obtenção de fibras foi utilizado o método de puxamento de preforma em uma torre de puxamento de características industriais. O puxamento das fibras foi conseguido em temperaturas próximas a 200 ºC possibilitando a confecção de fibras de diâmetro entre 200 µm a 1000 µm, essas fibras possuem uma atenuação entre 23 dB/m e 13 dB/m respectivamente. Esses valores são superiores ao encontrado para uma fibra comercial que é de 4 dB/m. Numa segunda parte do trabalho um novo material híbrido orgânico inorgânico foi preparado, constituído de PMMA e nanopartículas inorgânicas luminescentes de vanadato de ítrio dopado com európio (YVO4:Eu). Para isso foi empregado dois métodos diferentes: a moagem conjunta do PMMA com as nanopartículas com a posterior termoprensagem dessa mistura e a suspensão em solvente, que consistia em solubilizar o PMMA em um solvente contendo uma suspensão das nanopartículas com a sua posterior secagem. Ambos os métodos produziram materiais transparentes e homogêneos. As propriedades espectroscópicas sugerem que a identidade das nanopartículas tenha sido preservada nos compósitos finais. Alguns ensaios de puxamento de fibras a partir dos compósitos foram realizados / Abstract: In this work PMMA optical fibers were prepared from samples of commercially available PMMA. The samples were processed at 230 ºC to make rods homogeneous and without bubbles. With these rods was possible to obtain cylindrical preforms with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. The drawing of the fibers was achieved at temperatures around 200 ° C enabling the manufacture of fibers with diameters of 200 μm to 1000 μm these fibers have an attenuation between 23 dB/m and 13 dB/m respectively. These values are higher than found for a commercial fiber that is 4 dB/m. In a second part of the work a new organic inorganic hybrid material was prepared, consisting of PMMA and inorganic luminescent nanoparticles of yttrium vanadate doped with europium (YVO4:Eu). For this he was employed two different methods: the joint milling of PMMA nanoparticles with subsequent thermopressing the mixture and suspended in solvent, which was to solubilize the PMMA in a solvent containing a suspension of nanoparticles with subsequent drying. Both methods produced transparent and homogeneous materials. The spectroscopic properties suggest that the identity of nanoparticles has been preserved in the final composite. Some tests of pulling fiber from the composite were performed / Mestre

Les matériaux dopés avec des ions de terres rares continuent de faire l’objet de nombreuses recherches grâce à leur efficacité dans les domaines de la photonique et leurs applications dans les amplificateurs ou laser à fibre optique. Dans ce contexte, dans un premier temps, des massifs de silice (SiO2) dopée par des ions europium (Eu3+) ont été préparés par le processus Sol-Gel. Les propriétés de luminescence des ions de terres rares ont été étudiées dans ces massifs, ainsi que dans des massifs co-dopés avec du magnésium et traités thermiquement à 900°C. Les propriétés optiques des ions Eu3+ ont été étudiées aussi dans un environnement totalement différent : des nanoparticules de silice (NPSi). Ces différents matériaux ont été caractérisés par ICP-OES, MET, DRX, analyse de sorption et FT-IR. La première partie de ce manuscrit décrit comment la taille des NPSi, la quantité d’europium, le traitement thermique et la présence de magnésium modifient les propriétés de photoluminescence des ions Eu3+.Le second axe de ce travail de thèse concerne l'étude de la réactivité des ions fluorures dans le système ternaire SiO2-GeO2-LaF3. Plusieurs mélanges binaires et ternaires ont été élaborés et calciné à 1500°C puis étudiés par ATG, EDS-MEB, DRX et spectroscopie Raman. L'évaporation des ions F- a été mise en évidence via une réaction préférentielle avec le silicium (pour former SiF4) plutôt qu'avec le germanium. Dans le système ternaire, nous avons observé la formation de la phase La2Si2O7. / Rare earth ions doped materials continue to be the subject of several researches thanks to their efficiency in the fields of photonics and their applications in amplifiers or optical fiber lasers. In this context, firstly, silica bulks (SiO2) doped with europium ions (Eu3+) were prepared by Sol-Gel process. The luminescence properties of rare earth ions were studied in these bulks, as well as in bulks co-doped with magnesium and heat-treated at 900°C. The optical properties of Eu3+ ions have also been studied in a very different environment: silica nanoparticles (NPSi). These different materials were characterized by ICP-OES, TEM, XRD, sorption analysis and FT-IR. The first part of this manuscript describes how the size of the NPSi, the amount of europium, the heat treatment and the presence of magnesium modify the photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ ions.The second axis of this work concerns the study of the reactivity of fluoride ions in the ternary system SiO2-GeO2-LaF3. Several binary and ternary mixtures were prepared and heat-treated at 1500°C and then studied by TGA, EDS-SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The evaporation of F- ions has been evidenced by a preferential reaction with silicon (to form SiF4) rather than with germanium. In the ternary system, we observed the formation of La2Si2O7 phase.

Luminescent materials can be found in a broad range of everyday applications. While in the seventies and eighties, the field of luminescent materials seemed to be fairly well covered, research in nineties has been revitalized both in industry and academia. Improvements over the last three decades have led to phosphor materials that operate close to their physical limits. It cannot be expected that properties such as quantum yield and spectral energy distribution will be significantly improved or that distinctly better materials will be found in the near future. Recently, there is a considerable research activity in the field of luminescent materials for lighting and displays to improve the chemical stability and to adopt the materials to the production technology. Ongoing miniaturization, lifetime improvement and spectral stability of fluorescent lamps on the one hand and brightness and contrast improvement in imaging systems on the other hand demand luminescent materials with very high stability that is invariable to operating conditions. All of the today's efficient lighting sources are based on either direct or indirect light emission from plasma discharges. During the pioneering stage, fluorescent lamp industries predominantly used mixtures of two photo luminescent materials: (Zn,Be)2SiO4.'Mn2+ having two emission maxima at 520 and 600 nm and MgW04 with 480 nm emission. The emission from these two phosphors covers the major portion of the visible spectrum. However, the compound (Zn,Be)2Si04 is hazardous to health because of its beryllium content. In 1942, Jenkins showed that Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl):Sb,Mn was a very efficient emitter. The halophosphates emit both in the blue (Sb3+) as well as in the orange (Mn2+) spectral region, thus in addition yield white light. By carefully adjusting the ratio of Sb3+ and Mn2+ ion concentrations, a white light emitting phosphor was obtained with color temperatures ranging between 6500 and 2700K. However, the drawback of the halophosphate lamps is that it is impossible to have simultaneously high brightness and high color rendering; if the brightness is high (efficacy -80 lm W"1), the color rendering index (CRI) is of the order of 60, the CRI value can be improved up to 90, but then brightness decreases (-50 lm W"1). In 1974, another important breakthrough came in the form of compact fluorescent lamp, based on the trichromatic phosphor blend which resulted color rending values of 80-85 (color 80 lamps) at high efficiencies of 100 lm W"1. The fluorescent lamps with very high color rendering and efficiency can be obtained if three narrow band emitters with emission maxima at 450, 540 and 610 nm are employed. A typical trichromatic lamp phosphor blend comprises of (i) Sr5(PO4)3Cl:Eu2\ BaMgAl1()O,7:Eu2' as blue component, (ii) Ce0.67Tbo.33MgAl,,0,9, LaPO4,Le3\Tb3+ as green component and (iii)Y2C>3:Eiru as the red component. The color 80 lamps employ line emitters that generated light in discrete wavelength intervals. Colored objects that absorb outside these spectral regions appear with a slightly different body color when illuminated with these lamps rather than with a black body radiator such as the light bulb. For these purposes, color 90 or Deluxe lamps have been developed. The emission maximum of the blue phosphor can be shifted towards longer Wavelength by substituting BaMgAli0Oi7:Eu2+ with Sr4Ali4025:Eu2+. The red and green line emitters can be substituted by broad band emitters covering the whole spectral range. For this concept, (Ce,Gd,Tb)MgB5Oi0:Mn has been developed as a red emitter in which energy transfer from Ce3+ via Gd3+ to Mn2+ gives rise to an additional broad band at 630 nm. On the other hand, (Ba,Sr,Ca)2Si04:Eu has been developed as an alternative green-band emitter in which depending on the exact composition, the phosphor emits between 550 and 580 nm with a high quantum yield. Unfortunately, the host lattice is not stable in water, which prevents its deposition on the lamp bulb from aqueous suspensions and for environmental reasons more and more lamps producers use water as the suspending solvent in production instead of butyl acetate. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new full color emitting phosphors, which has both thermal and chemical stability for application in luminescent lighting. The classical cathode ray tube (CRT) invented as the brown tube more than 100 years ago has developed into a remarkably mature product considering the complexity of its manufacturing process. Cathode rays are a beam of fast electrons, the accelerating voltage in a television picture tube is high (>10 kV). Basic requirements of display phosphors are stability (2000 hr operation) and emission color purity according to the standards set by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The blue and green phosphors are still the very cheep ZnS based materials, essentially the same ever since color-TV was introduced in fifties. On the other hand, (Zn,Cd)S, Ag+,C1" was originally used as the red phosphor however, the broad emission centered at 650 nm due to intrinsic donor-acceptor transition leads to rather low lumen equivalent as large fraction of the emission integral lies outside the eye sensitivity curve. For this and the environmental reasons, it has been replaced by the much more expensive Y2O2S:Eu with main emission lines at 612 and 628 nm. Recently, the big electronic companies are trying to enforce flat panel displays e.g. PDPs (plasma display panels) and FEDs (field emission displays). This is because of the fact that when compared to the CRT screen pigments, FED phosphors are required to operate at lower voltages and higher current densities. Although the voltages used in FEDs are only 0.1 to < 2 kV, the high-energy surface excitation on the phosphor particles causes degradation of sulfides, leaving the oxide hosts as the only favorable choice. The phosphor blends used are mixtures of SrTiO3:Pr3+ (red), Y2Si05:Tb (green) and Y2Si05:Ce (blue). However, the white light generation efficiency is very low (-5 lm W"1) and required improvement of phosphor efficacy because of its distinct advantages such as a very wide range of operational temperatures, stability under rugged conditions and wide viewing angle of emission. Similarly, in PDPs blue emitting BaMgAlioOniEu, green emitting Z^SiO^Mn and red emitting (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu are mostly used which shows a screen efficiency of about 1.5 lm W"1, just only half that of a CRT used in today's TV sets. However, the advantages of PDPs over CRTs are that it is not sensitive towards the display manufacturing process, which includes high temperature annealing up to about 600°C and it is stable under the harsh conditions of a Ne/Xe plasma used in PDPs (ion bombardment, VUV radiation). This puts pressure on the development of phosphor for maximum brightness and high stability to replace completely the classical CRTs. On the other hand, the invention of the blue-light emitting diode (LED) based on GaN can be regarded as a triumph of materials chemistry. In principle, it is possible to vary the emission wavelength of blue GaN-based LEDs between 370 nm (band-gap of pure GaN) and 470 nm by increasing the indium (In) content in InGaN devices. Assuming a conversion from the incident light by a phosphor material emitting at 555 nm, InGaN is coated with (Yi.xGdx)3(Ali-yGay)5Oi2:Ce (YAG:Ce) which has broad yellow band varying between 510 and 580 nm. This allows the adjustment of white color temperature from 8000 down to 3000 K. Recently, S^SiCU and S^SiOs have attracted current interest due to their potential applications in developing white light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) because GaN (400 nm chip)-coated with Sr2Si04:Eu2+ or Sr3SiC>5;Eu2+ exhibits better luminous efficiency than that of the industrially available product such as InGaN (460 nm chip)-coated with YAG:Ce. However, the major drawback of this combination is the strongly decreasing overall efficiency upon lowering the color temperature. This can be solved by using a phosphor material that has sufficient absorption at the emission wavelength of the blue diode, the quantum yield should be high under UV/Vis excitation and the FWHM of the emission band should be as small as possible in order to achieve high luminous output. The search for stable inorganic rare-earths phosphors with high absoiption in the near UV/blue spectral region is therefore an attractive research work. Since luminescence materials are a key component for lighting and display concept, research in the field of rare-earths doped oxide phosphors is carried out. Although state-of-the-art materials fulfill most requirements, improvements are still necessary to further boost the efficiency of the phosphor materials. Since it is not expected that materials will be found that perform better than the already established phosphor, the present work concentrates on the improvements of the phosphor by modifying the chemical and niicrostructurai features as well as the crystal structure. Chapter I gives a brief introduction to luminescence in solids, physical aspects and applications. Chapter II describes the synthesis and various experimental techniques employed in the investigation. Chapter III deals with photoluminescence and energy transfer involving charge transfer states in Sr2-xLnxCe04+x/2 (Ln = Eu and Sm) leading to an efficient full color emitting phosphor for luminescent lighting. Chapter IV and V describe charge transfer transition involving interface states associated with transitional nanophaseprecipitates leading to photoluminescence enhancement of SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ and SrAli2Oi9:Pr3+,Ti4\ The light induced charge transfer leading to changing oxidation state of Eu in Sr2Si04 involving transient crystal structure results an efficient material for optical storage is presented in Chapter VI.Photoluminescence due to efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ and Mn2t in SnAlioSi02o leading to an efficient phosphor for FEDs is presented in Chapter VII. Chapter VIII describes charge transfer transition involving trap states leading to long phosphorescence in SrAl2-xBxO4 (0<x<0.2) and Sr4Al14.xBxO25 (0.1<x<0.4) co-doped with Eu2+ and Dy3+. Chapter IX presents the role of particle size on the charge transfer associated luminescence of GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu and Sm). A summary of the important findings and the conclusions arrived on the basis of results from these investigations are presented at the end of the thesis.

A maioria dos materiais que apresentam o fenômeno da luminescência persistente possuem o íon Eu2+ como ativador, exibindo emissões sintonizáveis entre o azul e o verde. Entretanto, materiais com luminescência persistente na região do vermelho e infravermelho próximo (Near Infrared - NIR) são ainda pouco reportados na literatura. Portanto, foram preparados neste trabalho os materiais TR2O2S.Ln3+ e TR2O2S.Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd e Y; Ln3+: Eu e Yb) pelo método de síntese no estado sólido assistido por micro-ondas. Os materiais foram caracterizados pelas técnicas de Difração de raios X (DRX), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (IV), Espectroscopia de absorção de raios X próximo a borda com radiação síncrotron (XANES), Termoluminescência (TL) e Espectroscopia de excitação na região do UV-UV vácuo com radiação síncrotron. Quando excitados na banda de absorção da matriz (band gap) ou por exemplo, nas bandas de transferência de carga LMCT O2-(2p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6) e S2-(3p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6), os materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+ e TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV apresentam um grande número de bandas de emissão finas atribuídas às transições 5D2,1,0 &#8594; 7FJ do íon Eu3+. Os dados espectroscópicos sugerem um alto grau de covalência e uma baixa energia de fônons para as matrizes TR2O2S. Além do mais, os materiais TR2O2S:Yb3+ e TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV apresentam bandas de emissão finas na faixa 900-1050 nm (NIR) atribuídas à transição 2F5/2 &#8594; 2F7/2 do íon Yb3+. Os mecanismos de luminescência persistente foram propostos para os materiais TR2O2S:Ln3+ e TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd e Y; Ln3+: Eu, Yb) e podem ser via armadilhamento de buracos ou via armadilhamento de elétrons. O mecanismo via armadilhamento de buracos é relativo à excitação dos íons Eu3+ e Yb3+ e explica a existência do fenômeno da luminescência persistente nos materiais sem co-dopantes (TR2O2S:Eu3+ e TR2O2S:Yb3+). De outra forma, o mecanismo via armadilhamento de elétrons ocorre nos materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV e TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV para a emissão oriunda do íon Ti3+. Nos materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV observa-se o processo de transferência de energia Ti3+ &#8594; Eu3+, o que leva a uma luminescência persistente mais eficiente do íon Eu3+. Por outro lado, devido à grande diferença de energia entre os íons Ti3+ e Yb3+, o processo de transferência de energia Ti3+ &#8594; Yb3+ não acontece para os materiais TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV. Portanto, a luminescência persistente ocorre via mecanismo de armadilhamento de buracos simultaneamente ao de armadilhamento de elétrons, obtendo uma luminescência persistente com contribuição no visível oriunda do íon Ti3+ e no NIR do íon Yb3+. Os materiais apresentam um grande potencial em aplicações e inovação tecnológica na área de fotônica como sondas biológicas luminescentes e sensibilizadores de células solares. / Most of persistent luminescent materials have the Eu2+ ion as an activator, displaying tunable emission color from blue to green region. However, there is a few examples of red and near infrared (NIR) persistent luminescent materials reported in literature. In this work, the TR2O2S:Ln3+ and TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd and Y; Ln3+: Eu and Yb) luminescent materials were prepared by microwave-assisted solid state synthesis. The materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Infrared absorption spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy near edge (XANES), Thermoluminescence (TL) and synchrotron radiation UV-VUV spectroscopy. When excited at the host absorption band (band gap) or at the ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer bands (LMCT), O2-(2p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6) and S2-(3p)&#8594; Eu3+(4f6), the materials TR2O2S:Eu3+ and TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV display a large number of narrow emission bands assigned to Eu3+ 5D2,1,0&#8594;7FJ transitions. Spectroscopic data indicate a high degree of covalency and low phonon energy of TR2O2S hosts. The TR2O2S:Yb3+ and TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials show emission bands in the range from 900 to 1050 nm (NIR) assigned to the 2F5/2&#8594;2F7/2 transitions of Yb3+ ion. The persistent luminescence mechanisms were proposed for TR2O2S:Ln3+ and TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd and Y; Ln3+: Eu and Yb) materials, there are two possible ways, hole-trapping or electron-trapping mechanisms. The hole-trapping mechanism is related to the excitation of Eu3+ and Yb3+ ions and explains the persistent luminescence phenomenon in non-co-doped materials (TR2O2S:Eu3+ and TR2O2S:Yb3+). The electron-trapping mechanism governs the persistent luminescence of Ti3+ ion in TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV and TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials. The Ti3+ &#8594; Eu3+ energy transfer was observed in TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg3+,Ti3+/IV materials and leads to an improvement of Eu3+ persistent luminescence. On the other hand, due to the large energy levels gap between Ti3+ and Yb3+ ions, there is no Ti3+&#8594;Yb3+ energy transfer in TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials. Therefore, the persistent luminescence in these materials occurs with hole-trapping and electron-trapping mechanisms simultaneously, obtaining a visible-NIR persistent luminescence composed by Ti3+ and Yb3+ emissions, respectively. The materials exhibit great potential in biological and technological innovation in photonic areas such as luminescent probes and solar cell sensitizers

Este trabalho dedica-se ao estudo de sistemas luminescentes do tipo hóspede-hopedeiro altamente emissivos. A preparação desses materiais se deu a partir da incorporação de complexos organometálicos (Eu3+ e Ir3+) em matrizes mesoporosas inorgânicas e orgâno-modificadas preparadas via sol-gel. Um complexo de európio foi imobilizado por impregnação úmida nos mesoporos de xerogéis e de materiais derivados da peneira molecular MCM-41, enquanto um complexo-surfactante de irídio foi inserido nos canais do MCM-41 como agente diretor da estrutura durante o processo de síntese. Previamente à incorporação dos centros emissores, as matrizes hospedeiras foram caracterizadas do ponto de vista estrutural, morfológico e óptico. As propriedades fotofísicas do material final foram investigadas e comparadas com aquelas apresentadas pelos complexos em solução. Para o complexo de európio foi realizado uma modelagem de suas propriedades ópticas através da teoria do campo ligante, empregando o modelo de recobrimento simples. Nesse tratamento, a geometria do estado fundamental foi obtida pelo método semi-empírico Sparkle/AM1 e confirmada a partir de um mapeamento criterioso dos fatores de carga. Observou-se que, para as amostras dopadas com o complexo de európio, a modificação da matriz hospedeira com grupos orgânicos só leva a melhoria das propriedades ópticas do material final quando a unidade orgânica substitui grupos silanol. Para o MCM-41 preparado com o complexo-surfactante de irídio, constatou-se que as propriedades fotofísicas do material final são muito superiores àquelas apresentadas pelo complexo em solução. / This work dedicates to the study of highly emissive guest-host luminescent materials prepared by the incorporation of organometallic complexes (of Eu3+ and Ir3+) in inorganic and organically-modified mesoporous hosts, obtained via sol-gel methodology. The europium complex (tris[(4 - (4\' - tert - butylbiphenyl - 4 - yl) - 2,2\' - bipyridine - &kappa;2N,N\' - 6 - carboxylato - &kappa;O)] europium(III)) was immobilized, via wet impregnation, in the mesopores of silica xerogels and of MCM-41 derived materials. The iridium surfactant-complex (bis[1 - benzyl 4 - (2,4 - difluorophenyl) - 1H -1,2,3 - triazole](4,4\' diheptadecyl - 2,2\' - bipyridine) iridium(III)) was inserted in the channels of MCM-41 while acting as the structure driving agent (template) during the host synthesis procedure. Prior to the incorporation of the luminescent centers in the host matrices, the latter were characterized from the structural, morphological and optical points of view. The photophysical properties of the final luminescent materials were investigated and compared to those presented by the complexes in solution. Particularly, the properties of the Eu-complex were further analyzed, via ligand field theory, employing the simple overlap model. For this treatment, the geometry of the ground state was obtained by the semiempirical Sparkle/AM1 model and confirmed by mapping out the charge factors. For the Eu-complex loaded materials it was verified that the host matrix surface modification with organic groups only results in improved photophysical properties when the organic units substitute silanol groups. For the case of the MCM-41 loaded with the Ir-surfactant-complex, the photophysical properties were found to be much superior to those presented by the complex in solution.

A maioria dos materiais que apresentam o fenômeno da luminescência persistente possuem o íon Eu2+ como ativador, exibindo emissões sintonizáveis entre o azul e o verde. Entretanto, materiais com luminescência persistente na região do vermelho e infravermelho próximo (Near Infrared - NIR) são ainda pouco reportados na literatura. Portanto, foram preparados neste trabalho os materiais TR2O2S.Ln3+ e TR2O2S.Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd e Y; Ln3+: Eu e Yb) pelo método de síntese no estado sólido assistido por micro-ondas. Os materiais foram caracterizados pelas técnicas de Difração de raios X (DRX), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (IV), Espectroscopia de absorção de raios X próximo a borda com radiação síncrotron (XANES), Termoluminescência (TL) e Espectroscopia de excitação na região do UV-UV vácuo com radiação síncrotron. Quando excitados na banda de absorção da matriz (band gap) ou por exemplo, nas bandas de transferência de carga LMCT O2-(2p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6) e S2-(3p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6), os materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+ e TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV apresentam um grande número de bandas de emissão finas atribuídas às transições 5D2,1,0 &#8594; 7FJ do íon Eu3+. Os dados espectroscópicos sugerem um alto grau de covalência e uma baixa energia de fônons para as matrizes TR2O2S. Além do mais, os materiais TR2O2S:Yb3+ e TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV apresentam bandas de emissão finas na faixa 900-1050 nm (NIR) atribuídas à transição 2F5/2 &#8594; 2F7/2 do íon Yb3+. Os mecanismos de luminescência persistente foram propostos para os materiais TR2O2S:Ln3+ e TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd e Y; Ln3+: Eu, Yb) e podem ser via armadilhamento de buracos ou via armadilhamento de elétrons. O mecanismo via armadilhamento de buracos é relativo à excitação dos íons Eu3+ e Yb3+ e explica a existência do fenômeno da luminescência persistente nos materiais sem co-dopantes (TR2O2S:Eu3+ e TR2O2S:Yb3+). De outra forma, o mecanismo via armadilhamento de elétrons ocorre nos materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV e TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV para a emissão oriunda do íon Ti3+. Nos materiais TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV observa-se o processo de transferência de energia Ti3+ &#8594; Eu3+, o que leva a uma luminescência persistente mais eficiente do íon Eu3+. Por outro lado, devido à grande diferença de energia entre os íons Ti3+ e Yb3+, o processo de transferência de energia Ti3+ &#8594; Yb3+ não acontece para os materiais TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV. Portanto, a luminescência persistente ocorre via mecanismo de armadilhamento de buracos simultaneamente ao de armadilhamento de elétrons, obtendo uma luminescência persistente com contribuição no visível oriunda do íon Ti3+ e no NIR do íon Yb3+. Os materiais apresentam um grande potencial em aplicações e inovação tecnológica na área de fotônica como sondas biológicas luminescentes e sensibilizadores de células solares. / Most of persistent luminescent materials have the Eu2+ ion as an activator, displaying tunable emission color from blue to green region. However, there is a few examples of red and near infrared (NIR) persistent luminescent materials reported in literature. In this work, the TR2O2S:Ln3+ and TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd and Y; Ln3+: Eu and Yb) luminescent materials were prepared by microwave-assisted solid state synthesis. The materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Infrared absorption spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy near edge (XANES), Thermoluminescence (TL) and synchrotron radiation UV-VUV spectroscopy. When excited at the host absorption band (band gap) or at the ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer bands (LMCT), O2-(2p) &#8594; Eu3+(4f6) and S2-(3p)&#8594; Eu3+(4f6), the materials TR2O2S:Eu3+ and TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV display a large number of narrow emission bands assigned to Eu3+ 5D2,1,0&#8594;7FJ transitions. Spectroscopic data indicate a high degree of covalency and low phonon energy of TR2O2S hosts. The TR2O2S:Yb3+ and TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials show emission bands in the range from 900 to 1050 nm (NIR) assigned to the 2F5/2&#8594;2F7/2 transitions of Yb3+ ion. The persistent luminescence mechanisms were proposed for TR2O2S:Ln3+ and TR2O2S:Ln3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV (TR3+: La, Gd and Y; Ln3+: Eu and Yb) materials, there are two possible ways, hole-trapping or electron-trapping mechanisms. The hole-trapping mechanism is related to the excitation of Eu3+ and Yb3+ ions and explains the persistent luminescence phenomenon in non-co-doped materials (TR2O2S:Eu3+ and TR2O2S:Yb3+). The electron-trapping mechanism governs the persistent luminescence of Ti3+ ion in TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV and TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials. The Ti3+ &#8594; Eu3+ energy transfer was observed in TR2O2S:Eu3+,Mg3+,Ti3+/IV materials and leads to an improvement of Eu3+ persistent luminescence. On the other hand, due to the large energy levels gap between Ti3+ and Yb3+ ions, there is no Ti3+&#8594;Yb3+ energy transfer in TR2O2S:Yb3+,Mg2+,Ti3+/IV materials. Therefore, the persistent luminescence in these materials occurs with hole-trapping and electron-trapping mechanisms simultaneously, obtaining a visible-NIR persistent luminescence composed by Ti3+ and Yb3+ emissions, respectively. The materials exhibit great potential in biological and technological innovation in photonic areas such as luminescent probes and solar cell sensitizers