Premium
Synthesis of Luminescent ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ Nanoparticles and Their Holographic Sub‐Micrometer Patterning in Polymer Composites
Author(s) -
Ninjbadgar Tsedev,
Garnweitner Georg,
Börger Alexander,
Goldenberg Leonid M.,
Sakhno Oksana V.,
Stumpe Joachim
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200801835
Subject(s) - luminescence , materials science , dopant , nanoparticle , quantum yield , nanomaterials , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , polymer , calcination , monomer , nanocrystal , photopolymer , doping , fluorescence , composite material , optoelectronics , optics , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering , catalysis
Here, the facile synthesis of fluorescent ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ nanoparticles with luminescence quantum yield of up to 8.7% that can be easily dispersed in organic solvents and utilized for the preparation of organic/inorganic volume holographic gratings is presented. The nanoparticles are prepared through a one‐step solvothermal process resulting in spherical particles with a mean size of 4 nm that were highly crystalline directly after the synthesis, without any need for calcination treatment. Detailed luminescence studies of the nanoparticles as a function of Eu 3+ content demonstrate that the dopant concentration and its site symmetry play an important role in the emissive properties and lifetime of the luminescent centers. It is shown that the luminescence quantum yield of the colloidal ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ nanoparticles increases with dopant concentration up to a critical concentration of 11 mol% while the luminescence lifetime is shortened from 1.8 to 1.4 ms. Holographic photopolymerization of suitable monomer mixtures containing the luminescent nanoparticles demonstrated the ability to inscribe volume Bragg gratings (refractive index contrast n 1 up to 0.011) with light‐emissive properties, evidencing the high suitability of this approach for the fabrication of tailored nanomaterials for elaborate and demanding applications.