Using Eu3+ as A Versatile Probe for Local and Long-range Chemistries

Abstract: Rare earth elements play a significant role in the global economy due to their unique luminescent, catalytic, and magnetic properties resulting from their f electrons. Of these rare earths, Eu is commonly used as a luminescent center due to its temperature and structural responses and its ability to electronically couple with transition metal ions. However, the luminescent host must be carefully designed in order to take advantage of these unique properties as atomic and long-range chemical probes. Using a combination of synthetic methods (molten salt, sol-gel, hydrothermal), we are able to spatially control dopant ions within core-shell nanoparticles. When these nanoparticles are exposed to different external stimuli (temperature, magnetic fields, chemical environments) the characteristic Eu luminescent spectrum undergoes unique changes, which we can model to extract the local and long-range chemical environments. In this presentation, I will discuss our research using Eu to design new nanostructures and their dynamic luminescent signal for ferroelectric, catalytic, and biological sensing applications. By engineering these nanostructures, we have been able to improve the temperature and concentration sensitivities using non-invasive, low-cost approaches.
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