title: Reduced erbium-doped ceria nanoparticles: one nano-host applicable for simultaneous optical down- and up-conversions.
abstract: This paper introduces a new synthesis procedure to form erbium-doped ceria nanoparticles (EDC NPs) that can act as an optical medium for both up-conversion and down-conversion in the same time. This synthesis process results qualitatively in a high concentration of Ce(3+) ions required to obtain high fluorescence efficiency in the down-conversion process. Simultaneously, the synthesized nanoparticles contain the molecular energy levels of erbium that are required for up-conversion. Therefore, the synthesized EDC NPs can emit visible light when excited with either UV or IR photons. This opens new opportunities for applications where emission of light via both up- and down-conversions from a single nanomaterial is desired such as solar cells and bio-imaging.
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA ; Department of Engineering Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shehata
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassounah
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Mantu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudait
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clavel
authors.affiliation: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elhelw
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced Materials (CAM), Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madi
keywords: Ceria nanoparticles; Erbium dopant; Fluorescence; Up-conversion