Recent progress on the spectroscopy of rare earth ions in core-shells, nanowires, nanotubes, and other novel nanostructures

Xueyuan Chen (State Key Lab. of Struct. Chem., Chinese Acad. of Sci., Fuzhou, China); Liqin Liu; Guokui Liu

Source: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, v 8, n 3, March 2008, 1126-37

ISSN: 1533-4880 CODEN: JNNOAR

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers, USA

Abstract: Research and development of nanoscale luminescent and laser materials are part of the rapidly advancing nanoscience and nanotechnology. Because of unique spectroscopic properties and luminescent dynamics of f-electron states, doping luminescent rare earth ions into nano-hosts has been demonstrated as an optimistic approach to developing highly efficient and stable nanophosphors for various applications. In this article, we review the most recent progress in spectroscopic measurements of rare earth ion-activated low-dimensional nanostructures including nanolayers, core-shells, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanodisks. Among a large volume of work reported in the literature on many members of the rare earth series including Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Er³⁺ we focus on recent findings in the spectroscopic and luminescence properties of Eu³⁺ doped nanolayers, core-shells, and nanotubes, because Eu³⁺ ions have been extensively studied and widely used as an ideal probe for fundamental understanding of nano-phenomena. Specifically, the dependence of the optical properties of rare earth ions on nanostructures is discussed in detail. (75 refs.)

 terms:  alumina  -  europium  -  II-VI semiconductors  -  luminescence  -  nanotubes  -  nanowires  -  phosphors  -  silicon compounds  -  thin films  -  wide band gap semiconductors  -  yttrium compounds  -  zinc compounds