A Triple-Doped Phosphor Strategy for the Conversion of Cool and Warm White Light.

This work proposes a new type of Eu2+, Ce3+, Mn2+ codoped strategy that can be adapted to both ultraviolet (UV) and blue chips to achieve high-quality white light illumination. Primarily, the target sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement, and the surface morphology and element distribution were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Second, the energy transfer behavior and mechanism were determined by studying double-doped samples. Lu2Mg2Al2Si2O12: Eu2+,Ce3+ (LMAS: Eu2+,Ce3+) can realize an emission color adjustment from blue to yellow. The emission color of LMAS: Ce3+,Mn2+ can be adjusted from light yellow to orange yellow. Afterward, the triple-doped sample exhibits full-spectrum emission under the excitation at 365 nm, and yellow emission under the excitation at 450 nm. When combined with a 365 nm chip, the obtained light-emitting diode (LED) devices can achieve warm white light with a color rendering index (Ra) of 96.6, light emission (LE) of 1.79 lm/W, and correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4874 K. When this phosphor was combined with a 460 nm chip, cold white light with Ra = 70, LE = 13.57 lm/W, and CCT = 5782 K can be achieved. Finally, according to the properties of the phosphor, a conceptual diagram of a new type parallel device was designed, which can easily and effectively realize the conversion of cold and warm white light. This work provides a new idea for the design of single-substrate white light phosphor and proposes a new parallel device concept, which is expected to be applied in the field of lighting.

Fluorescent Carbon Dots as Cost-Effective and Facile Probes for Caffeic Acid Sensing via a Fluorescence Quenching Process.

Caffeic acid (CA), a familiar color stabilizing reagent, has aroused general concern due to its uncontrolled addition, and thus the detection of CA is increasingly important. In our report, the bright carbon dots (CDs) were prepared via hydrothermal treatment with urea and citric acid act as raw material and their characteristics were discussed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and so on. Impressively, the strong emission of the as-prepared CDs (Quantum Yield: 24.3%) decreased sharply upon a full reaction with the added CA. Hence, we first present an improved strategy for determining CA based upon the quenching of the strong emission of CDs. In this strategy, 0.79-100.0 µmol L- 1 caffeic acid could be simply detected, and a detection limit of 0.24 µmol L- 1 was allowed. Additionally, CA in red wine samples can be successfully detected by this method and the exploration of the quenching mechanism of the CA-CDs system was done.

Resonance Rayleigh scattering technique as a detection method for the RP-HPLC determination of local anaesthetics in human urine.

A highly selective and sensitive method of reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled with resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) was developed for the determination of procaine, bupivacaine and tetracaine. Separation of three local anaesthetics was achieved at 35 °C on a C18 column. The mobile phase was 30: 70 (v/v) acetonitrile/triethylamine-phosphoric acid buffer (pH 2.9) at flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The RRS detection was conducted by taking advantage of the strong RRS enhancement of the local anaesthetics with erythrosine reaction in an acidic medium. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection (S/N = 3) values were in the range of 2.4-11.2 ng/mL. Recoveries from spiked human urine samples were 95.8%-104.5%. The proposed method applied to the determination of local anaesthetics in human urine achieved satisfactory results. In addition, the mechanism of the reaction is fully discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of norfloxacin in food by an enhanced spectrofluorimetric method.

BACKGROUND: Using a norfloxacin (NFLX)-Nd3+ -cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) system for the detection of NFLX, a simple and sensitive method based on fluorescence enhancement was developed. RESULTS: In pH 7.0 buffer solution, NFLX reacted with Nd3+ to form a complex, which resulted in fluorescence enhancement of NFLX, and the maximum emission peak shifted from 415 nm for NFLX to 450 nm for NFLX-Nd3+ . Moreover, the fluorescence intensity increased further when the surfactant CTAB was added to NFLX-Nd3+ . Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the NFLX-Nd3+ -CTAB system was linearly correlated with the NFLX concentration in the range 0.038-10 µmol L-1 , with a correlation coefficient (R2 ) of 0.9997. The detection limit (3σ/k) was 0.021 µmol L-1 , indicating that this method can be applied to detect trace NFLX levels. The mechanism of fluorescence enhancement is discussed. The method was used to detect NFLX in fish and chicken samples with satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that this method has the potential for fast and real-time determination of NFLX in food samples © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Highly sensitive fluorescence biosensors for sparfloxacin detection at nanogram level based on electron transfer mechanism of cadmium telluride quantum dots.

A sensitive fluorescence biosensor for determining sparfloxacin (SPF) based on the electron transfer mechanism and the fluorescence quenching effect of SPF to cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) was developed. The mechanism of the interaction between SPF and CdTe QDs was investigated by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The biosensor could be used for the determination of SPF with a high sensitivity. Under optimum conditions, the linear range was from 0.28 to 40 µg SPF ml(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9983, and the detection limit (3δ/k) was 83.7 ng SPF ml(-1). Furthermore, this method has been applied to the determination of SPF in the synthetic environmental water samples and the spiked human serum samples with good results.

Sensitive detection of sodium cromoglycate with glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots as a novel fluorescence probe.

A sensitive and simple analytical strategy for the detection of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) has been established based on a readily detectable fluorescence quenching effect of SCG for glutathione-capped (GSH-capped) CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The fluorescence of GSH-capped CdTe QDs could be efficiently quenched by SCG through electron transfer from GSH-capped CdTe QDs to SCG. Under optimum conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of SCG between 0.6419 and 100 µg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9964; the detection limit (3δ/K) was 0.1926 µg/mL. The optimum conditions and the influence of coexisting foreign substances on the reaction were also investigated. The very effective and simple method reported here has been successfully applied to the determination of SCG in synthetic and real samples. It is believed that the established approach could have good prospects for application in the fields of clinical diseases diagnosis and treatment.

Molecular spectroscopic studies on the interactions of rhein and emodin with thioglycolic acid-capped core/shell CdTe/CdS quantum dots and their analytical applications.

Water-soluble thioglycolic acid (TGA)-capped core/shell CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized. The interactions of rhein and emodin with TGA-CdTe/CdS QDs were evaluated by fluorescence and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that the high fluorescence intensity of TGA-CdTe/CdS QDs could be effectively quenched in the presence of rhein (or emodin) at 570 nm, which may have resulted from an electron transfer process from excited TGA-CdTe/CdS QDs to rhein (or emodin). The quenching intensity was in proportion to the concentration of both rhein and emodin in a certain range. Under optimized conditions, the linear ranges of TGA-CdTe/CdS QDs fluorescence intensity versus the concentration of rhein and emodin were 0.09650-60 µg/mL and 0.1175-70 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9984 and 0.9965, respectively. The corresponding detection limits (3σ/S) of rhein and emodin were 28.9 and 35.2 ng/mL, respectively. This proposed method was applied to determine rhein and emodin in human urine samples successfully with remarkable advantages such as high sensitivity, short analysis time, low cost and easy operation. Based on this, a simple, rapid and highly sensitive method to determine rhein (or emodin) was proposed.

Study on interactions of aminoglycoside antibiotics with calf thymus DNA and determination of calf thymus DNA via the resonance Rayleigh scattering technique.

A simple and sensitive resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) spectra method was developed for the determination of calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). The enhanced RRS signals were based on the interactions between ctDNA and aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGs) including kanamycin (KANA), tobramycin (TOB), gentamicin (GEN) and neomycin (NEO) in a weakly acidic medium (pH 3.3-5.7). Parameters influencing the method were investigated. Under optimum conditions, increments in the scattering intensity (∆I) were directly proportional to the concentration of ctDNA over certain ranges. The detection limit ranged from 12.2 to 16.9 ng/mL. Spectroscopic methods, including RRS spectra, absorption spectra and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, coupled with thermo-denaturation experiments were used to study the interactions, indicating that the interaction between AGs with ctDNA was electrostatic binding mode.

A rapid and sensitive resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra method for the determination of quinolones in human urine and pharmaceutical preparation.

A new method based on resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) was proposed for the determination of quinolones (QNS) at the nanogram level. In pH 3.3-4.4 Britton-Robinson buffer medium, quinolones such as ciprofloxacin, pipemidic acid (PIP), lomefloxacin (LOM), norfloxacin (NOR) and sarafloxacin (SAR) were protonated and reacted with methyl orange (MO) to form an ion-pair complex, which then further formed a six-membered ring chelate with Pd(II). As a result, new RRS spectra appeared and the RRS intensities were enhanced greatly. RRS spectral characteristics of the MO-QNS-Pd(II) systems, the optimum conditions for the reaction, and the influencing factors were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the scattering intensity (∆I) increments were directly proportional to the concentration of QNS with in certain ranges. The method had high sensitivity, and the detection limits (3σ) ranged from 6.8 to 12.6 ng/mL. The proposed method had been successfully applied for the determination of QNS in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples. In addition, the mechanism of the reaction system was discussed based on IR, absorption and fluorescence spectral studies. The reasons for the enhancement of scattering spectra were discussed in terms of fluorescence-scattering resonance energy transfer, hydrophobicity and molecular size.

Triple-wavelength overlapping resonance Rayleigh scattering method for facile and rapid assay of perfluorooctane sulfonate.

In the present study, a novel triple-wavelength overlapping resonance Rayleigh scattering (TWO-RRS) method had been well established to detect perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). We found that crystal violet (CV) could react with PFOS to form 1:1 ion-association complex by electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic effect over a wide pH range (5.0∼11.0) in less than 60 s. The complexes would further self-aggregated into nanoparticles [CV-PFOS]n. Based on this phenomenon, not only the absorption and Raman spectra were changed but also the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) intensities were significantly enhanced. And three new RRS peaks located at 327, 492, and 654 nm were clearly observed, respectively. At the same time, it was found that both the enhanced single-wavelength resonance Rayleigh scattering (SW-RRS) and TWO-RRS intensities against the concentration of PFOS showed an excellent correlation. The detection limits for the three single peaks were 27.4 nmol L(-1) (13.7 µg L(-1), 327 nm), 27.5 nmol L(-1) (13.8 µg L(-1), 492 nm), and 31.4 nmol L(-1) (15.7 µg L(-1), 654 nm), and for TWO-RRS method was 5.9 nmol L(-1) (3.0 µg L(-1)). Moreover, it could be applied to determine PFOS water samples successfully.

Detection of DNA using an "off-on" switch of a regenerating biosensor based on an electron transfer mechanism from glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots to nile blue.

Although various strategies have been reported for double-stranded DNA (DNA) detection, development of a time-saving, specific, and regeneratable fluorescence sensing platform still remains a desired goal. In this study, we proposed a new DNA detection method that relies on an "off-on" switch of a regenerated fluorescence biosensor based on an electron transfer mechanism from glutathione (GSH)-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) to nile blue (NB). Initially, the high fluorescence of GSH-capped CdTe QDs could be effectively quenched by NB due to the binding of NB to the GSH on the surface of the QDs and the electron transfer from the photoexcited GSH-capped CdTe QDs to NB. Then, the high affinity of DNA to NB enabled the NB to be dissociated from the surface of GSH-capped CdTe QDs to form a more stable complex with DNA and suppress the electron transfer process between GSH-capped CdTe QDs and NB, thereby restoring the fluorescence of NB surface modified GSH-capped CdTe QDs (QDs-NB). In addition, we have testified the regenerability of the proposed DNA senor. The corresponding result shows that this DNA sensor is stable for two reuses. This fluorescence "off-on" signal was sensitive to the concentration of DNA in the range from 0.0092 to 25.0 µg mL(-1) with a good correlation coefficient of 0.9989, and the detection limit (3σ/S) was 2.78 ng mL(-1). To further investigate for perfect analysis performance, the developed biosensor was applied for the determination of DNA in human fresh serum samples with satisfactory results.

Fluorescence quenching investigation on the interaction of glutathione-CdTe/CdS quantum dots with sanguinarine and its analytical application.

Water-soluble glutathione (GSH)-capped core/shell CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized. In pH5.4 sodium phosphate buffer medium, the interaction between GSH-CdTe/CdS QDs and sanguinarine (SA) was investigated by spectroscopic methods, including fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Addition of SA to GSH-CdTe/CdS QDs results in fluorescence quenching of GSH-CdTe/CdS QDs. Quenching intensity was in proportion to the concentration of SA in a certain range. Investigation of the quenching mechanism, proved that the fluorescence quenching of GSH-CdTe/CdS QDs by SA is a result of electron transfer. Based on the quenching of the fluorescence of GSH-CdTe/CdS QDs by SA, a novel, simple, rapid and specific method for SA determination was proposed. The detection limit for SA was 3.4 ng/mL and the quantitative determination range was 0.2-40.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988. The method has been applied to the determination of SA in synthetic samples and fresh urine samples of healthy human with satisfactory results.

Direct determination of polymyxin B sulfate using resonance Rayleigh scattering and resonance non-linear scattering methods with hexatungstate.

At pH 1.3-1.6, tungstate WO4(2-) , can be converted to hexatungstate W6 O19(2-) , which can react with positively charged polymyxin B sulfate (PMB) to result in enhancement of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and resonance non-linear scattering, including second order scattering and frequency doubling scattering. Linear relationships can be established between enhanced scattering intensity and PMB concentration. The detection limits (3σ) were 5.5 ng/mL (RRS), 10.1 ng/mL (second order scattering) and 34.6 ng/mL (frequency doubling scattering). The optimum reaction conditions, influencing factors and related analytical properties were tested. The interaction mechanism was investigated via absorption spectrum, circular dichroism spectra and atomic force microscopy imaging. The basis of scattering enhancement is discussed. PMB in eardrops, human serum and urine, were quantified satisfactorily by RRS.

Characterization of the interaction of a mono-6-thio-ß-cyclodextrin-capped CdTe quantum dots-methylene blue/methylene green system with herring sperm DNA using a spectroscopic approach.

Novel, water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) capped with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) and ~ 4.0 nm in diameter were synthesized in aqueous solution, and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A fluorescence-sensing system based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) of (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs was then designed to measure the interaction of phenothiazine dyes [methylene blue (MB) and methylene green (MG)] with herring sperm DNA (hsDNA). This fluorescence-sensing system was based on a fluorescence "OFF-ON" mode. First, MB/MG adsorbed on the surface of (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs effectively quenches the fluorescence of (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs through PET. Then, addition of hsDNA restores the fluorescence intensity of (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs, because hsDNA can bind with MB/MG and remove it from the as-prepared (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs. In addition, detailed reaction mechanisms of the (mono-6-thio-ß-CD)-CdTe QDs-MB/MG-hsDNA solution system were studied using optical methods, by comparison with the TGA-CdTe QDs-MB/MG-hsDNA solution system.

Interaction of proteins with aluminum(III)-chlorophosphonazo III by resonance Rayleigh scattering method.

In weak acid medium, aluminum(III) can react with chlorophosphonazo III [CPA(III), H(8)L] to form a 1:1 coordination anion [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-). At the same time, proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme (Lyso) and human serum albumin (HSA) existed as large cations with positive charges, which further combined with [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-) to form a 1:4 chelate. This resulted in significant enhancement of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency doubling scattering (FDS). In this study, we investigated the interaction between [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-) and proteins, optimization of the reaction conditions and the spectral characteristics of RRS, SOS and FDS. The maximum RRS wavelengths of different protein systems were located at 357-370 nm. The maximum SOS and FDS wavelengths were located at 546 and 389 nm, respectively. The scattering intensities (ΔI) of the three methods were proportional to the concentration of the proteins, within certain ranges, and the detection limits of the most sensitive RRS method were 2.6-9.3 ng/mL. Moreover, the chelate reaction mechanism or the reasons for the enhancement of RRS were discussed through absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism (CD) spectra.

Fluorescence quenching studies on the interaction of riboflavin with tryptophan and its analytical application.

The ineraction between riboflavin (RBF) and tryptophan (Trp) was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy under physiological conditions. The fluorescence of Trp was quenched by RBF via dynamic quenching, which was analyzed using the Stern-Volmer relation. The value of the Forster distance R0 (2.31 nm) was obtained according to the Forster's theory of nonradiative energy transfer. Under physiological conditions, a linear relationship could be established between the quenched fluorescence intensity of Trp and the concentration of RBF in the range of 5.8 × 10(-7) -2.0 × 10(-5) mol/L. The detection limit was 1.8 × 10(-7) mol/L. The method was successfully applied to determine riboflavin concentrations in pharmaceutical samples.

Study on the ternary system of MoO4 (2-) -enzyme-PdCl2 by resonance Rayleigh scattering, second-order scattering and frequency-doubling scattering spectra and its analytical application.

In pH 4.0 Britton-Robinson buffer medium, PdCl2 was able to react with enzymes (EZ) such as lysozyme (LYSO) and papain (PAP) to form a coordination complex (EZ-PdCl2 ), which further reacted with MoO4 (2-) to form a ternary complex (MoO4 (2-) -EZ-PdCl2 ). As a result, the absorption and fluorescence spectra changed; new spectra of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling scattering (FDS) appeared and their intensities were enhanced greatly. The maximum RRS, SOS and FDS wavelengths of two ternary complexes were located at 310, 560 and 350 nm, respectively. The increments of scattering intensity were directly proportional to the concentrations of EZ within certain ranges. The detection limits (3σ) of LYSO and PAP were 4.5 and 14.0 ng/mL (RRS method), 9.6 and 57.8 ng/mL (SOS method), and 5.2 and 106.0 ng/mL (FDS method). Taking the MoO4 (2-) -LYSO-PdCl2 system, which was more sensitive, as an example, the effects of coexisting substances were evaluated. The methods showed excellent selectivity. Accordingly, new rapid, convenient, sensitive and selective scattering methods for the determination of LYSO and PAP were proposed and applied to determine LYSO in egg white with satisfactory results. The reaction mechanism and basis of the enhancement of scattering were discussed.

Fluorescence quenching method for the determination of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate with aromatic amino acids.

In Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer medium (pH 3.3), carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (CSS) can react with some aromatic amino acids such as tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) to form a 1:1 complex by electrostatic attraction, aromatic stacking interaction and Van der Waals' force, resulting in fluorescence quenching of these amino acids. Maximum quenching wavelengths were located at 352 nm (CSS-Trp system), 303 nm (CSS-Tyr system) and 284 nm (CSS-Phe system), respectively. The fluorescence quenching value (ΔF) was proportional to the concentration of CSS in a certain range. The fluorescence quenching method for the determination of CSS showed high sensitivity, with detection limits of 31.3 ng/mL (CSS-Trp system), 44.6 ng/mL (CSS-Tyr system) and 315.0 ng/mL (CSS-Phe system), respectively. The optimum conditions of the reaction conditions and the effect of coexisting substances were investigated and results showed that the method had good selectivity. The method was successfully applied for the rapid determination of CSS in blood and urine samples. Based on the bimolecular quenching constant Kq , the effect of temperature and Stern-Volmer plots, this study showed that quenching of fluorescence of amino acids by CSS was a static quenching process.

A simple fluorescent receptor selective for Mg2+.

A structurally simple fluorescent receptor (receptor 1) has been synthesized and was found to show a dramatic enhancement in its fluorescence emission upon complexation with Mg(2+). This was maybe contributed to by the inhibition of the C=N isomerization in the excited state. The experimental results show that the receptor was selective and sensitive towards Mg(2+) in the presence of competing ions, with a low detection limit of 3.5 × 10(-9) mol L(-1) (3σ).

Resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra of Cu2+-adenine-WO4(2-) system and its analytical application.

In pH 6.6-7.2 Tris-HCl buffer, Cu(2+) could react with adenine (A) to form a 1:1 coordination cation [CuA](2+), which only resulted in minor change of the absorption spectrum. However, when this cation further combined with WO(4)(2-) to form a 1:1 ternary ion-association complex [CuA]WO(4), the absorption spectrum changed a lot, and the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency doubling scattering (FDS) enhanced significantly. The maximum wavelengths of RRS, SOS and FDS were located at 310, 592 and 395 nm, respectively. The enhanced intensities of the three methods were proportional to the concentration of adenine in certain ranges, and the detection limit of the most sensitive RRS method was 7.4 × 10(-9) mol L(-1) (1.0 ng mL(-1)), indicating that this method could detect trace adenine. In this work, the optimum reaction conditions and the influencing factors have been studied, some potential interferences and the composition of the ion-association complex have been investigated. Meanwhile, the construction of the product and the reaction mechanism have been investigated by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscope and quantum chemical calculation. Accordingly, a novel RRS method for determination of adenine has been proposed and applied to detect adenine in real samples with satisfactory results.