Observation of internal excitation transfer in luminescent lanthanide materials by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy

ORAL

Abstract

Luminescent lanthanide materials have a broad range of established and emerging applications, including fluorescent lighting and displays, laser materials, dyes for biomedical assays, and wavelength-converting coatings for solar cells. Most of these applications make use of parity-forbidden transitions with the partially filled 4f shells of the trivalent lanthanide ions, which lead to emission lines at wavelengths spanning the visible spectrum. The desired excited state of the lanthanide ion is typically populated by energy transfer (ET) from a strongly absorbing ``sensitizer,'' rather than by direct excitation. We have observed a transient X-ray absorption spectroscopy signal associated with the ET in several luminescent dyes and a suspension of an inorganic Eu phosphor. This opens up a novel approach to studies of internal ET in luminescent materials, complementary to previous measurements at optical wavelengths. In addition, the transient signal shows an unexpected change in 5d electronic structure accompanying the 4f-4f transition, which suggests that the intrashell excitation is associated with a change in the degree of mixing of 4f-5d states.

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Authors

  • Joseph Pacold

    University of Washington, Univ of Washington

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University