title: Visible quantum cutting in GdF3:Eu(3+) nanocrystals via downconversion.
abstract: GdF3:Eu(3+) nanocrystals (NCs) and nanorods were synthesized by a microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal process. The structure, shape and particle size were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrum of GdF3:Eu(3+) NCs shows that the Gd(3+) ion can absorb one VUV photon excited in the (6)GJ levels and relaxes through two-step energy transfer to Eu(3+), yielding two visible photons at room temperature. The visible quantum efficiency of GdF3:Eu(3+) NCs was calculated to be close to 170% by the peak intensity ratio of correlative transition emission under VUV excitation at 160 nm.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian 116600, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruinian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Baojiu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mingtao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tianzhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenlian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li