Facilely Direct Construction, White-Light Emission, and Color-Adjustable Luminescence of LaF3 :Pr3+ @SiO2 Yolk-Shell Nanospheres with Moisture Resistance.

Poor water stability and single luminous color are the major drawbacks of the most phosphors reported. Therefore, it is important to realize multicolor luminescence in a phosphor with single host and single activator as well as moisture resistance. LaF3 :Pr3+ @SiO2 yolk-shell nanospheres are facilely obtained by a designing new technology of a simple and cost-effective electrospray ionization combined with a dicrucible fluorating technique without using protective gas. In addition, tunable photoluminescence, especially white-light emission, is successfully obtained in LaF3 :Pr3+ @SiO2 yolk-shell nanospheres by adjusting Pr3+ ion concentrations, and the luminescence mechanism of Pr3+ ion is advanced. Compared with the counterpart LaF3 :Pr3+ nanospheres, the water stability of LaF3 :Pr3+ @SiO2 yolk-shell nanospheres is improved by 15% after immersion in water for 72 h, and the fluorescence intensity can be maintained at 86% of the initial intensity. Furthermore, by treating the yolk-shell nanospheres with hydrofluoric acid, it is not only demonstrated that the shell-layer is SiO2 but also core-LaF3 :Pr3+ nanospheres are obtained. Particularly, only fluorination procedure among the halogenation can produce such special yolk-shell nanospheres, the formation mechanism of yolk-shell nanospheres is proposed detailedly based on the sound experiments and a corresponding new technology is built. These findings broaden practical applications of LaF3 :Pr3+ @SiO2 yolk-shell nanospheres.

Dual-Confinement Effect of Nanocages@Nanotubes Suppresses Polysulfide Shuttle Effect for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely hinders the development and commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries, and the design of high-conductive carbon fiber-host material has become a key solution to suppress the shuttle effect. In this work, a unique Co/CoN-carbon nanocages@TiO2-carbon nanotubes structure (NC@TiO2-CNTs) is constructed using an electrospinning and nitriding process. Lithium-sulfur batteries using NC@TiO2-CNTs as cathode host materials exhibit high sulfur utilization (1527 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C) and can still maintain a discharge capacity of 663 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 5 C, and the capacity loss is only 0.056% per cycle during 500 cycles at 1 C. It is worth noting that even under extreme conditions (sulfur-loading = 90%, surface-loading = 5.0 mg cm-2 (S), and E/S = 6.63 µL mg-1), the lithium-sulfur batteries can still provide a reversible capacity of 4 mAh cm-2. Throughdensity functional theory calculations, it has been found that the Co/CoN heterostructures can adsorb and catalyze LiPSs conversion effectively. Simultaneously, the TiO2 can adsorb LiPSs and transfer Li+ selectively, achieving dual confinement for the shuttle effect of LiPSs (nanocages and nanotubes). The new findings provide a new performance enhancement strategy for the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Femtosecond Laser Combined with Hydrothermal Method to Construct Three-Dimensional Spatially Distributed Wurtzite ZnO Micro/Nanostructures to Enhance Photocatalytic Properties.

Conventional approaches employing nanopowder particles or deposition photocatalytic nanofilm materials encounter challenges such as performance instability, susceptibility to detachment, and recycling complications in practical photocatalytic scenarios. In this study, a novel fabrication strategy is proposed that uses femtosecond laser direct writing of self-sourced metal to prepare a self-supporting microstructure substrate and combines the hydrothermal method to construct a three-dimensional spatially distributed metal oxide micro/nanostructure. The obtained wurtzite ZnO micro/nanostructure has excellent wetting properties while obtaining a larger specific surface area and can achieve effective adsorption of methyl orange molecules. Moreover, the tight integration of ZnO with the surface interface of the self-sourced metal microstructure substrate will facilitate efficient charge transfer. Simultaneously, it improves the efficiency of light utilization (absorption) and the number of active sites in the photocatalytic process, ultimately leading to excellent photodegradation stability. This result provides an innovative technology solution for achieving efficient semiconductor surface-interface photocatalytic performance and stability.

Polyoxometalate-based iron-organic complex nanozymes with peroxidase-like activities for colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid.

As a new type of artificial enzyme, a nanozyme is an ideal substitute for natural enzymes and has been successfully applied in many fields. However, in the application of biomolecular detection, most nanozymes have the disadvantages of long reaction times or high detection limits, prompting researchers to search for new efficient nanozymes. In this work, the enzyme-like activities of three polyoxometalate-based iron-organic complexes ([Fe(bpp)2](Mo6O19), [Fe(bpp)2]2(Mo8O26)·2CH3OH, and [Fe(bpp)2]4H[Na(Mo8O26)]3), namely, FeMo6, Fe2Mo8, and Fe4Mo8Na, were analyzed. All three polyoxometalate-based iron-organic complexes were found to be capable of catalyzing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine and o-phenylenediamine, resulting in visible color changes, further exhibiting peroxidase-like activity. Results showed that Fe4Mo8Na had more active sites due to its long chain structure, endowing more prominent peroxidase-like activity compared with Fe2Mo8 and FeMo6. A colorimetric sensing platform for H2O2 and ascorbic acid detection based on Fe4Mo8Na was established. The linear response range for H2O2 detection was 0.5-100 µM, and the detection limit was 0.143 µM. The linear response for ascorbic acid detection ranges from 0 to 750 µM with a detection limit of 1.07 µM. This study provides a new perspective for developing new nanozymes and expanding the sensing and detection application of nanozymes.

Construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction bifunctional photocatalyst with Ag-modified AgBr embedded in ß-Bi2O3 flowers.

ß-Bi2O3 demonstrates excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light, but it has a very high photogenerated e--h+ recombination rate and quite low quantum efficiency. AgBr also shows excellent catalytic activity but Ag+ is easily reduced to Ag under light radiation, which limits its application in the photocatalysis field, and there are few reports about the application of AgBr in photocatalysis. In this study, the spherical flower-like porous ß-Bi2O3 matrix was first obtained, and then the spherical-like AgBr was embedded between the petals of the flower-like structure to avoid direct light radiation. The only light through the pores on the ß-Bi2O3 petals could be transmitted onto the surfaces of AgBr particles to form a nanometer point light source, which photo-reduced Ag+ on the surface of the AgBr nanospheres to construct the Ag-modified AgBr/ß-Bi2O3 embedded composite and a typical Z-scheme heterojunction was constructed. Under this bifunctional photocatalyst and visible light, the RhB degradation rate reached 99.85% in 30 min, and the photolysis water hydrogen production rate reached 6.288 mmol g-1 h-1. This work is as an effective method for not only the preparation of the embedded structure, quantum dot modification and flower-like morphology but also for the construction of Z-scheme heterostructures.

Pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelts and arrays simultaneously endowed with conductive anisotropy, magnetism and white fluorescence.

A novel [uniaxial needle]//[coaxial needle]//[uniaxial needle] parallel spinneret is first innovatively designed and manufactured by inserting a coaxial needle into the middle of a bi-axial parallel needle, and the corresponding spinning device is established. With the aid of the distinctive-structured spinneret and the spinning device, a novel and brand-new flexible one-dimensional nanobelt//coaxial nanobelt//nanobelt tri-strand parallel nanobelt, very much like a tricolor flag and named a pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt, is successfully prepared by electrospinning technology for the first time. Microscopically, partition of four independent domains in the pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt is realized, and such a partitioned structure can assemble various functions and helps reduce detrimental interactions among various functions to acquire excellent poly-functions of multifunctional nanomaterials. As a case study, {anthracene/Eu(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone)3(triphenylphosphine oxide)2 [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)}//{[CoFe2O4/PMMA]@[polyaniline (PANI)/PMMA]}//{coumarin-6/PMMA} pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelts and arrays (abbreviated as [B + R]//[M@C]//[G] PNA) are designed and constructed via electrospinning. Each pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt is composed of left and right sides of blue and red fluorescent [anthracene/Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2/PMMA] nanobelts and green fluorescent [coumarin-6/PMMA] nanobelts, respectively, and the middle of the [CoFe2O4/PMMA]@[PANI/PMMA] coaxial nanobelt with magnetic-conductive bifunctionality using the CoFe2O4/PMMA nanobelt as the core and PANI/PMMA as the shell. Luminescence-magnetic-conductive polyfunctionalities are highly integrated but also mutually separated in the pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt, and thus, both segregation and integration of the functions are actualized in the pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt. A pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt as the building unit ensures strong fluorescence and high conductive anisotropy of the array. Moreover, energy transfer between dyes is controlled by the special structure of the nanobelt and thus white light emission is realized by the combination of europium complexes with the dyes. The conductive anisotropy and magnetism of the array are tuned by changing the content of PANI and CoFe2O4, respectively. The formation mechanism of the pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt is proposed, and new techniques for constructing nanobelts and arrays are established. This kind of pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt with four functional subareas possesses important implications as a building unit to construct other polyfunctional nanostructures. More importantly, the design philosophy and the construction techniques for the novel pseudo-tricolor typed nanobelt and array afford some guidance for the development of other multifunctional materials.

A nanostructured MoO2/MoS2/MoP heterojunction electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Electrocatalytic production of hydrogen from water is considered to be a promising and sustainable strategy. In this work, the low-cost nanostructured MoO2/MoS2/MoP heterojunction is successfully synthesized by phosphorization of the pre-prepared urchin-like MoO2/MoS2 nanospheres as the stable, highly efficient electrocatalysis for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The MoO2/MoS2/MoP-800 (MoO2/MoS2 nanospheres are phosphated at 800 °C) displays a catalytic ability for the HER with an overpotential of 135 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 67 mV dec-1 in 0.5 M H2SO4, which is superior to MoO2/MoS2 nanospheres (200 °C; 24 h), MoO2/MoS2/MoP-700 (MoO2/MoS2 nanospheres are phosphated at 700 °C) and MoO2/MoS2/MoP-900 (MoO2/MoS2 nanospheres are phosphated at 900 °C). Meanwhile, the catalyst exhibits superior properties for HER with an overpotential of 145 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 71 mV dec-1 in 1 M KOH solution. Detailed characterizations reveal that the improved HER performances are significantly related to P-doping and the spherical nanostructure. This work not only provides a low-cost selective for electrocatalytic production of hydrogen, but also serves as a guide to optimize the composition and structure of nanocomposites.

Luminescence properties and energy transfer of Tb3+, Eu3+ co-doped YTaO4 phosphors obtained via sol-gel combustion process.

Tantalate is considered as a valuable and efficient luminescence host because of its intense absorption in the ultraviolet area and excellent chemical properties. In this work, a series of pure YTaO4:Eu3+ and/or Tb3+ crystals were prepared via a sol-gel combustion method. The morphology, structure, and optical properties of the samples were discussed in detail. The Eu3+, Tb3+ co-doped YTaO4 samples are consisted of small spherical particles of around 18 nm. The prepared YTaO4:Tb3+ and/or Eu3+ samples exhibit the characteristic wide excitation band around 210-300 nm, the characteristic narrow red emission of Eu3+ (5D0 → 7F2) transitions and green emission of the Tb3+ (5D4 → 7F5) transitions when excited by UV light. It is focused on the energy transfer processes from the YTaO4 to Tb3+ as well as Eu3+ ions and from Tb3+ to Eu3+ ions of YTaO4:Eu3+/Tb3+ phosphors. Color-tunable emissions are realized through adjusting the types of rare earth ion (Eu3+ and Tb3+) and relative doping concentrations excited by a single wavelength. That is to say, the obtained Tb3+ and Eu3+ co-doped YTaO4 phosphors have a promising prospect in lasers, white light diodes (WLED), fluorescent lamp, and field emission display devices, etc.

Preparation of Bitter Melon-like Ordered Porous Fluorinated Eu3+-Phenanthroline/ZnO Composite with Yellow Light Emission.

The soft template method was used to synthesize the ordered porous ZnO precursor and with 1,10-phenanthroline as an organic ligand, Eu3+ as a luminescent center ion, and NH4F as a fluorine source, a kind of much uniform bitter melon-like ordered porous fluorinated Eu3+-phenanthroline/ZnO composite was finally prepared through the hydrothermal method. The average length of the bitter melon-like particles was 0.7-1.0 µm, and its average diameter was 300-400 nm, which had a lot of ordered mesoporous dispersed on the surfaces. The prepared materials showed strong yellow and blue light emission under 394 and 275 nm excitation, respectively. The optimum synthesized conditions were determined according to the synthesis parameter of the sample with the strongest emission peak intensity.

Utilizing modules of different functions to construct a Janus-type membrane and derivative 3D Janus-type tube displaying synchronous trifunction of conductive aeolotropism, magnetism and luminescence.

The microstructures and macrostructures play a crucial role in the properties and applications of multifunctional materials. Herein, microscopic partition and macroscopic partition are combined by devising and preparing different modules that can be elaborately devised to possess specific performances. A two-dimensional (2D) 3-module Janus-type membrane multifunctionalized by conductive aeolotropism, magnetism and luminescence (defined as 3M-CML Janus-type membrane) is constructed via electro-spinning. The modular structure of 3M-CML Janus-type membrane is obtained by devising and constructing three different modules, including luminescence module (denoted as L module), conductive aeolotropism-luminescence module (marked as C-L module) and magnetism-luminescence module (named as M-L module). The results prove that almost no mutual detrimental influences exist among different modules owing to the macroscopic modular structure and Janus-type structure, which effectively avoids the negative interactions among different materials. Tb(BA)3phen/PVP nanofiber, [PMMA/Eu(BA)3phen]//[PMMA/PANI] Janus-type nanoribbon and [PMMA/Tb(BA)3phen]//[PMMA/Fe3O4] Janus-type nanoribbon are, respectively, selected as building units of the three modules, which further prevents the negative interactions among different materials and improves the versatility of 3M-CML Janus-type membrane. The luminescence, adjustable conductive aeolotropism and variable magnetism of 3M-CML Janus-type membrane are systematically discussed. Meanwhile, novel flexible four types of brand-new three-dimensional (3D) Janus-type tubes are obtained by rolling modularly devised 2D 3M-CML Janus-type membrane with different rolling schemes. As derivatives of the 2D 3M-CML Janus-type membranes, macroscopic 3D Janus-types tubes exhibit similar performances to 2D 3M-CML Janus-type membranes. The 2D Janus-type membrane and 3D Janus-type tube will have momentous applications in flexible electronics and nanodevices in the future.

Controlled Morphology, Improved Photoluminescent Properties, and Application of an Efficient Non-rare Earth Deep Red-Emitting Phosphor.

Transition-metal tetravalent manganese ions (Mn4+) as luminescence center of red phosphors have drawn much attention owing to their broad-band absorption extended from UV to blue regions and narrow red-emissive band. In the present work, a series of Mn4+-doped BaGeF6 red phosphors were obtained via hydrothermal method. X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, and photoluminescence spectra were employed to determine the crystal structure, composition, morphology, and photoluminescence properties of all samples. The prepared BaGeF6:Mn4+ samples demonstrate two dominant broadband absorption at near-UV (∼366 nm) and blue regions (∼470 nm) and intense red emissions (∼635 nm) under 470 nm excitation. In addition, the morphology and the emission intensities were successfully controlled by adjusting doping concentrations, reaction times, reaction temperatures, barium sources, and surfactants. Concentration quenching and thermal quenching mechanisms were studied in detail. When the BaGeF6:Mn4+ red phosphor was introduced into the light-emitting diode, warm white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs) were successfully fabricated, which have high color rendering index (Ra = 86.3) and low correlated color temperature (4766 K), indicating that the BaGeF6:Mn4+ red phosphor provides a good opportunity for application in w-LEDs.

Dual-mode, tunable color, enhanced upconversion luminescence and magnetism of multifunctional BaGdF5:Ln(3+) (Ln = Yb/Er/Eu) nanophosphors.

A series of Yb(3+), Er(3+), and Eu(3+) ions doped BaGdF5 dual-mode (down-conversion (DC) and upconversion (UC)) luminescent nanophosphors were successfully prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurements, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were utilized to characterize the samples. Under 274 nm UV light excitation, BaGd0.78-zF5:0.2Yb(3+),0.02Er(3+),zEu(3+) phosphors emitted orange emission. Under 980 nm NIR irradiation, intense up-converted visible green emissions were observed in BaGdF5:Yb(3+),Er(3+)/Eu(3+) samples. The mechanism of UC emissions involved two-photon absorption. In the Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) co-doped BaGdF5 phosphors, the energy transfer processes from Gd(3+) to Eu(3+) and from Yb(3+) to Er(3+) were discussed. Tunable colors were visualised with the help of the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram and the processes responsible for the DC and UC emissions were discussed in detail. The enhanced up-conversion luminescence of Yb(3+),Er(3+)/Eu(3+) co-doped BaGdF5 nanophosphors (NPs) was realized by modifying the trisodium citrate (Cit(3-)) surfactant. Moreover, the as-prepared samples exhibited paramagnetic properties at room temperature. This type of multifunctional orange-green emitting nanophosphor has promising applications in solid state lasers, lighting, MRI, anti-counterfeiting, biolabels, and so on.

Assembly of 1D nanofibers into a 2D bi-layered composite nanofibrous film with different functionalities at the two layers via layer-by-layer electrospinning.

A two-dimensional (2D) bi-layered composite nanofibrous film assembled by one-dimensional (1D) nanofibers with trifunctionality of electrical conduction, magnetism and photoluminescence has been successfully fabricated by layer-by-layer electrospinning. The composite film consists of a polyaniline (PANI)/Fe3O4 nanoparticle (NP)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) tuned electrical-magnetic bifunctional layer on one side and a Tb(TTA)3(TPPO)2/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) photoluminescent layer on the other side, and the two layers are tightly combined face-to-face together into the novel bi-layered composite film of trifunctionality. The brand-new film has totally different characteristics at the double layers. The electrical conductivity and magnetism of the electrical-magnetic bifunctional layer can be, respectively, tunable via modulating the PANI and Fe3O4 NP contents, and the highest electrical conductivity can reach up to the order of 10-2 S cm-1, and predominant intense green emission at 545 nm is obviously observed in the photoluminescent layer under the excitation of 357 nm single-wavelength ultraviolet light. More importantly, the luminescence intensity of the photoluminescent layer remains almost unaffected by the electrical-magnetic bifunctional layer because the photoluminescent materials have been successfully isolated from dark-colored PANI and Fe3O4 NPs. By comparing with the counterpart single-layered composite nanofibrous film, it is found that the bi-layered composite nanofibrous film has better performance. The novel bi-layered composite nanofibrous film with trifunctionality has potential in the fields of nanodevices, molecular electronics and biomedicine. Furthermore, the design conception and fabrication technique for the bi-layered multifunctional film provide a new and facile strategy towards other films of multifunctionality.

NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts: facile construction technique, structure and bifunctionality of luminescence and enhanced paramagnetic performances.

Luminescent-magnetic bifunctional NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts have been successfully fabricated by a combination of electrospinning followed by subsequent calcination with fluorination technology for the first time. The structure, morphologies, and luminescence and magnetic properties of the synthesized materials have been investigated by a variety of techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that as-prepared NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanostructures are pure hexagonal structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicate that directly electrospinning-made PVP/[NaNO3 + Gd(NO3)3 + Dy(NO3)3] composite nanofibers and nanobelts have smooth surfaces, good dispersion and uniform size, and surfaces of NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts become rough after calcination and fluorination processes. The mean diameters of PVP/[NaNO3 + Gd(NO3)3 + Dy(NO3)3] composite nanofibers and NaGdF4:0.5%Dy3+ nanofibers are, respectively, 402.20 ± 2.39 nm and 246.06 ± 5.84 nm at the confidence level of 95%. The mean widths and thicknesses of PVP/[NaNO3 + Gd(NO3)3 + Dy(NO3)3] composite nanobelts and NaGdF4:0.5%Dy3+ nanobelts are 4.16 ± 0.17 µm and 279 nm, and 0.83 ± 0.01 µm and 130 nm, respectively. Under the excitation of 274 nm ultraviolet light, NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts show the predominant blue and yellow emission peaks at 478 and 570 nm corresponding to the 4F9/2 → 6HJ/2 (J = 15, 13) energy level transitions of Dy3+ ions, respectively. NaGdF4:0.5%Dy3+ nanofibers have higher photoluminescence intensity than their nanobelt counterpart. In addition, all the NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts display superparamagnetic properties. The NaGdF4:0.5%Dy3+ nanobelts show the highest magnetization, and NaGdF4:0.5%Dy3+ nanofibers have slightly higher magnetization values than NaGdF4 nanofibers. NaGdF4:Dy3+ nanofibers and nanobelts simultaneously possess excellent luminescence and enhanced superparamagnetic properties, which make them ideally suitable for application in many fields such as solid-state lasers, lighting and displays, and magnetic resonance imaging. The design conception and construction strategy developed in this work may provide some new guidance for the synthesis of other rare earth fluoride nanostructures with various morphologies.

Tunable photoluminescence and magnetic properties of Dy(3+) and Eu(3+) doped GdVO4 multifunctional phosphors.

A series of Dy(3+) or/and Eu(3+) doped GdVO4 phosphors were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results indicate that the as-prepared samples are pure tetragonal phase GdVO4, taking on nanoparticles with an average size of 45 nm. Under ultraviolet (UV) light excitation, the individual Dy(3+) or Eu(3+) ion activated GdVO4 phosphors exhibit excellent emission properties in their respective regions. The mechanism of energy transfer from the VO4(3-) group and the charge transfer band (CTB) to Dy(3+) and Eu(3+) ions is proposed. Color-tunable emissions in GdVO4:Dy(3+),Eu(3+) phosphors are realized through adopting different excitation wavelengths or adjusting the appropriate concentration of Dy(3+) and Eu(3+) when excited by a single excitation wavelength. In addition, the as-prepared samples show paramagnetic properties at room temperature. This kind of multifunctional color-tunable phosphor has great potential applications in the fields of photoelectronic devices and biomedical sciences.

Multifunctional MWCNTs-NaGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) hybrid nanocomposites with potential dual-mode luminescence, magnetism and photothermal properties.

A novel dual-mode luminescence multifunctional hybrid nanomaterial has been successfully prepared by coating the NaGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of MWCNTs. The as-synthesized MWCNTs-NaGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) nanocomposites (NCs) can simultaneously take advantage of both magnetic and optical properties of NaGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) NPs and the photothermal conversion property of MWCNTs. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), UV-Vis absorption, luminescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime measurements. Meanwhile, the photothermal conversion was examined under irradiation with a 980 nm laser. The results show that the MWCNTs-NaGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Eu(3+) NCs have preferably magnetic, dual-mode (up- and down-conversion) luminescence and photothermal properties. And the NCs have good biocompatibility, low toxicity and up-conversion luminescence for cell imaging. As a consequence, the dual-mode luminescence multifunctional nanomaterials have potential applications in environmental science fields and clinical fields for magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, photothermal therapy, bioseparation and targeted drug delivery.

A novel strategy to directly fabricate flexible hollow nanofibers with tunable luminescence-electricity-magnetism trifunctionality using one-pot electrospinning.

Novel photoluminescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional flexible Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP (BA = benzoic acid, phen = phenanthroline, PANI = polyaniline, PVP = polyvinylpyrrolidone) hollow nanofibers were fabricated by a one-pot electrospinning technique using a specially designed coaxial spinneret for the first time. Very different from the traditional preparation process of hollow fibers via coaxial electrospinning, which needs to firstly fabricate the coaxial fibers and followed by removing the core through high-temperature calcination or solvent extraction, in our current study, no core spinning solution is used to directly fabricate hollow nanofibers. The morphology and properties of the obtained hollow nanofibers were characterized in detail using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, a 4-point probe resistivity measurement system and vibrating sample magnetometry. The Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP hollow nanofibers, with outer diameters of ca. 305 nm and inner diameters of about 140 nm, exhibit excellent photoluminescence performance, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. Fluorescence emission peaks of Eu(3+) are observed in the Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP hollow nanofibers and assigned to the (5)D0→(7)F0 (580 nm), (5)D0→(7)F1 (592 nm) and (5)D0→(7)F2 (616 nm) energy level transitions of Eu(3+) ions, and the (5)D0→(7)F2 hypersensitive transition at 616 nm is the predominant emission peak. The electrical conductivity of the hollow nanofibers reaches up to the order of 10(-3) S cm(-1). The luminescent intensity, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of the hollow nanofibers can be tuned by adding various amounts of Eu(BA)3phen, PANI and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The new-type photoluminescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional flexible hollow nanofibers hold potential for a variety of applications, including electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorption, molecular electronics and biomedicine. The design conception and synthetic strategy developed in this study are of universal significance to construct other multifunctional hollow one-dimensional nanomaterials.

Novel flexible belt-shaped coaxial microcables with tunable multicolor luminescence, electrical conductivity and magnetism.

A novel type of flexible [Fe3O4/PANI/PMMA]@{[Eu(BA)3phen + Tb(BA)3phen]/PMMA} (PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate, BA = benzoic acid, phen = phenanthroline, PANI = polyaniline) belt-shaped coaxial microcable possessing electrical conductivity, magnetism and color-tunable photoluminescence has been successfully fabricated by electrospinning technology using a specially designed coaxial spinneret. Every strip of belt-shaped coaxial microcable is assembled with a Fe3O4/PANI/PMMA electrically conductive -magnetic bifunctional core and a [Eu(BA)3phen + Tb(BA)3phen]/PMMA insulative and photoluminescence-tunable shell. The conductivity of the core of belt-shaped coaxial microcables reaches up to the order of 10(-2) S cm(-1) and all belt-shaped coaxial microcables are insulated from each other. The tuning of emission color is possible by changing the Eu(3+)/Tb(3+) molar ratio of the belt-shaped coaxial microcables. The electrical conductivity, magnetic and photoluminescence properties of belt-shaped coaxial microcables can be tuned by adjusting the content of PANI, Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and rare earth complexes. More importantly, the proposed design idea and the construction technique are universal regarding the preparation of other multifunctional one-dimensional micromaterials.

Electrospinning preparation and photoluminescence properties of Y3Al5O12:Tb3+ nanostructures.

Novel nanostructures of Y3Al5O12:Tb(3+) (denoted as YAG:Tb(3+) for short) nanobelts and nanofibers were fabricated by calcination of the respective electrospun PVP/[Y(NO3)3 + Tb(NO3)3 + Al(NO3)3] composite nanobelts and nanofibers. YAG:Tb(3+) nanostructures are cubic in structure with a space group of Ia 3d. The thickness and width of the YAG:7%Tb(3+) nanobelts are respectively ca. 125 nm and 5.9 ± 0.3 m, and the diameter of YAG:7%Tb(3+) nanofibers is 166.0 ± 20 nm (95% confidence level). The YAG:Tb(3+) nanostructures emit predominantly at 544 nm from the energy levels transition of (5) D4 → (7) F5 of Tb(3+) ions under the excitation of 274-nm ultraviolet light. It was found that the optimum doping molar concentration of Tb(3+) ions for YAG:Tb(3+) nanostructures was 7%. Compared with YAG:7%Tb(3+) nanofibers, YAG:7%Tb(3+) nanobelts exhibit a stronger photoluminescence (PL) intensity under the same doping concentration. Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) analysis demonstrates that the emitting colors of YAG:Tb(3+) nanostructures are located in the green region and color-tuned luminescence can be obtained by changing the doping concentration of Tb(3+) and morphologies of the nanostructures, which could be applied in the field of optical telecommunication and optoelectronic devices. The possible formation mechanisms of YAG:Tb(3+) nanobelts and nanofibers are also proposed.

Single flexible nanofiber to achieve simultaneous photoluminescence-electrical conductivity bifunctionality.

In order to develop new-type multifunctional composite nanofibers, Eu(BA)3 phen/PANI/PVP bifunctional composite nanofibers with simultaneous photoluminescence and electrical conductivity have been successfully fabricated via electrospinning technology. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is used as a matrix to construct composite nanofibers containing different amounts of Eu(BA)3 phen and polyaniline (PANI). X-Ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), fluorescence spectroscopy and a Hall effect measurement system are used to characterize the morphology and properties of the composite nanofibers. The results indicate that the bifunctional composite nanofibers simultaneously possess excellent photoluminescence and electrical conductivity. Fluorescence emission peaks of Eu(3+) ions are observed in the Eu(BA)3 phen/PANI/PVP photoluminescence-electrical conductivity bifunctional composite nanofibers. The electrical conductivity reaches up to the order of 10(-3) S/cm. The luminescent intensity and electrical conductivity of the composite nanofibers can be tuned by adjusting the amounts of Eu(BA)3 phen and PANI. The obtained photoluminescence-electrical conductivity bifunctional composite nanofibers are expected to possess many potential applications in areas such as microwave absorption, molecular electronics, biomedicine and future nanomechanics. More importantly, the design concept and construction technique are of universal significance to fabricate other bifunctional one-dimensional naonomaterials.