Dispersion of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using a Novel Type of Sonication: Focused Sonication.

We demonstrate the use of novel type of sonication method, focused sonication, with added advantages over bath and probe type of sonication for the dispersion of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Di-chloro benzene was used as the solvent for dispersion of SWNT. Results from focused sonication and bath sonication were compared and found that focused sonication results in better dispersion. Also Raman spectroscopy was analysed to ascertain if focused sonication causes any damage to the tubes and it was found that there was no damage to the SWNT. We believe that with the added advantages like in-situ temperature control and large sample volume processing, focused sonication would prove to be the most proficient method of sonication for dispersion of nanoparticles.

Influence of Er(3+) concentration on the photoluminescence characteristics and excitation mechanism of Gd2O3:Er(3+) phosphor synthesized via a solid-state reaction method.

An Er(3+) -doped phosphor of Gd2O3(Gd2O3:Er(3+)) was prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction method. The structure and particle size were determined from X-ray powder diffraction measurements. The average particle size of the phosphor was in between 20 and 50 nm. The particle size and structure of the phosphor were further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Luminescence spectra were recorded under excitation wavelengths of 275, 380, 515 and 980 nm. The visible upconversion and downconversion luminescence spectra of the Gd2O3:Er(3+) phosphor were investigated as a function of Er(3+) ion concentration. The upconverted emission at 980 nm excitation shows enhanced red emission with respect to green emission as the dopant concentration increased. Similar results were observed for downconversion emission under 275 and 380 nm excitation wavelengths. The mechanisms responsible for populating the (4)S3/2 and (4)F9/2 levels, for green and red emissions, respectively, are different for different excitations and for different concentrations of Er(3+).