The processing of optically active functional hierarchical nanoparticles Articles uri icon

publication date

  • January 2017

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 28

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0921-8831

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1568-5527

abstract

  • Global climate changes and the aroused environmentally-energy problems categorically moved the research efforts towards programmed processing of a novel class of hierarchical materials having well defined phase, compositional and morphological features. The synthesis based on the principles of the molecular design and integrative chemistry which includes the innovative aerosol and hydro(solvo)thermal nanotechnology routes, the building block assembling and hybridization, represent intelligent platform for the creation of advanced functional materials. Due to exceptional optical properties and a diverse application in electronics, optoelectronics, energy conversion/storage and biomedicine, the examples from some wide band gap oxides for light harvesting and photocatalytic applications as well as both down and up-conversion energy-saving luminescent materials for photonic and biological applications are considered. With the help of various analyzing techniques like XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), analytical and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM, HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning tunneling electron microscopy (STEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, photocatalytic and fluorescence measurements, the opportunities of the aerosol and hydro(solvo)thermal routes for the synthesis of novel hierarchically and hybrid assembled structures and nanocomposites are reviewed highlighting the recent research activities realized in the Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA, Belgrade, Serbia and University Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. The morphological, structural and functional aspects of the following systems: ZnO, TiO2, Y2O3:Eu,Yb/Er/T/Hm, Y2O3:Eu@Ag, (Y1-xGdx)(2)O-3:Eu, (NaYF4:Yb/Er)@EDTA/PEG/PVP, are discussed from the state-of-the art and literature contexts.

keywords

  • hierarchical structures; soft chemical routes; yttrium compounds-based phosphors; down-conversion; up-conversion; tio2; zno; up-conversion luminescence; ultrasonic spray-pyrolysis; sensitized solar-cells; aerosol route; solvothermal synthesis; hydrothermal synthesis; energy-conversion; porous materials; particle-size; powders