NANOMATERIALS AND LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS BASED ON RARE EARTH IONS

Abstract

The proposal addresses an important challenge in the research & development field of luminescent materials doped with rare earth ions, aiming to achieve new technologically advanced and strategic products. The Nanomaterials and Luminecence Systems Group (NanoLum) at the Department of Chemistry of FFCLRP-USP has developed new nanostructured materials for cell labeling, biofilms characterization, drug delivery process, as well as new phosphors. However, important hurdles still need to be overcome to produce more efficient systems. In this way, this wide project aims to obtain (1st) Nanostructured Luminescent systems and (2nd) Randon Lasers exploring the luminescence properties of rare earth ions; which are the result of well-known intraconfigurational 4fn transitions, in which the 4fn electrons are well shielded from its environment by the closed 5s2 and 5p6 shells, thus enabling emission processes by mechanisms as Downshifting, Upconversion e Downconversion. The new nanostructured phosphors will allow to develop nanoprobes for bio-molecular identification, scintillators, tissues cartography and devices for drug delivery. Luminescent composites will be prepared using silica capillaries or silk fibroin (from the cocoons of the Bombyx mori) and nanometric ceramic powders based on rare earth ions or other phosphors, to get systems with potential application in random Laser emission. The academic purposes are not excluded from this project, which there are three scientific master projects and two PhD projects associated at this research. (AU)