title: Efficient near-infrared emission from neodymium by broadband sensitization of bismuth in zeolites.
abstract: Nd-Bi codoped zeolites were prepared by an ion-exchange process, and the optical properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation spectra, and decay time measurements. The results show that the NIR emission of Nd(3+) ions is significantly enhanced by the introduction of bismuth in codoped samples, and the lifetime reaches 246 μs. It is also observed that NIR-active Bi acts as a sensitizer of Nd(3+) ions. The energy transfer efficiency is also estimated. The peculiar optical properties make Nd-Bi codoped zeolites promising for potential application in biological probes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuhata
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi