Zhong-Jie Jiang

Cooperative downconversion in GdAl3(BO3)(4): RE3+,Yb3+ (RE=Pr, Tb, and Tm)

An efficient near-infrared (NIR) quantum cutting (QC) in GdAl3(BO3)(4):RE3+,Yb3+ (RE=Pr, Tb, and Tm) phosphors has been demonstrated, which involves the conversion of the visible photon into the NIR emission with an optimal quantum efficiency approaching 200%, by exploring the cooperative downconversion mechanism from RE3+ (RE=Pr, Tb, and Tm) excitons to the two activator ions, Yb3+. The development of NIR QC phosphors could open up a new approach in achieving high efficiency silicon-based solar cells by means of downconversion in the visible part of the solar spectrum to similar to 1000 nm photons with a twofold increase in the photon number. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Concentration-dependent near-infrared quantum cutting in GdBO3:Tb3+,Yb3+ nanophosphors

An efficient near-infrared (NIR) quantum-cutting (QC), involving the emission of two low-energy NIR photons from an absorbed visible photon via a cooperative downconversion mechanism in GdBO3:Tb3+,Yb3+ nanophosphors, has been demonstrated. Upon excitation of Tb3+ with a visible photon at 486nm, two NIR photons could be emitted by Yb3+ through cooperative energy transfer from Tb3+ to two Yb3+ ions. The dependence of Yb3+ doping concentration on the visible and NIR emissions, decay lifetime, and quantum efficiencies from the QC phosphors has been investigated. Calculations indicate that the optimal NIR quantum efficiency approaches 182% before reaching concentration quenching threshold. Application of the QC nanophosphors in silicon-based solar cells might greatly enhance its response.

An efficient compact 300 mW narrow-linewidth single frequency fiber laser at 1.5 μm

An efficient single frequency fiber laser by using a newly-developed Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped single mode phosphate glass fiber with the net gain coefficient of 5.2 dB/cm and propagation loss coefficient of 0.04 dB/cm has been demonstrated. Over 300 mW stable continuous -wave single transverse and longitudinal mode seed lasering at 1.5 microm has been achieved from a 2.0 cm-long active fiber. The measured slope efficiency and the calculated quantum efficiency of laser emission are found to be 30.9% and 0.938 +/- 0.081, respectively. It is found that the linewidth of the fiber laser is less than 2 kHz, and the measured relative intensity noise (RIN) is around -120 dB/Hz in the frequency range of 50 to 500 kHz.

A high-performance anode for lithium ion batteries: Fe3O4 microspheres encapsulated in hollow graphene shells

The encapsulation of transition metal oxide (TMO) particles in a graphene hollow shell to form a core-void-shell structure is an attractive way to improve the electrochemical performance of TMO-based electrodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). First, the continuous graphene shell may enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrodes and thus facilitate current collection and charge transfer associated with lithium storage. Second, the unique shell structure may suppress the aggregation of the core TMO particles while the void space between the core and shell may accommodate the large volume changes of the core during charge–discharge cycling, which enhances electrode stability against cycling. Third, the high specific surface area may improve the accessibility of active electrode materials to the electrolyte, which could effectively reduce the solid-state diffusion length and thus enhance Li ion transport and rate capability. When tested in a LIB, a Fe3O4@rGO composite electrode exhibits an initial reversible capacity of 1236.6 mA h g−1, which is much higher than that of an electrode based on bare Fe3O4, a physical mixture of Fe3O4 and graphene, or other forms of Fe3O4 reported in the literature. In addition, the cycling performance and rate capacity are also much better. The results clearly demonstrate that this unique electrode architecture is ideally suited for LIBs and other electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices.

980nm laser-diode-excited intense blue upconversion in Tm3+∕Yb3+-codoped gallate–bismuth–lead glasses

Intense blue-upconversion in Tm3+∕Yb3+-codoped gallate–bismuth–lead glasses has been achieved under an excitation from a commercially available 980nm laser diode. Energy transfer processes and excited-state absorption account for the population of the G41 emitting level of the Tm3+. Although the addition of GeO2 has enhanced the glass thermal stability, the phonon mode associated with vibration of GeO2 has almost no influence on the blue-upconversion intensity and the radiative lifetime of H43 level. The dependence of the phonon energy of the host on contributions from multiphonon decay on the fluorescence has been discussed. Significant enhancement of the blue-upconversion has also been observed in gallate–bismuth–lead glasses with the incorporation of PbF2 content.Intense blue-upconversion in Tm3+∕Yb3+-codoped gallate–bismuth–lead glasses has been achieved under an excitation from a commercially available 980nm laser diode. Energy transfer processes and excited-state absorption account for the population of the G41 emitting level of the Tm3+. Although the addition of GeO2 has enhanced the glass thermal stability, the phonon mode associated with vibration of GeO2 has almost no influence on the blue-upconversion intensity and the radiative lifetime of H43 level. The dependence of the phonon energy of the host on contributions from multiphonon decay on the fluorescence has been discussed. Significant enhancement of the blue-upconversion has also been observed in gallate–bismuth–lead glasses with the incorporation of PbF2 content.

Amine-functionalized holey graphene as a highly active metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

Amine functionalized holey graphene (AFHG), synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of GO and ammonia and the subsequent KOH etching, has been used as a metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It shows that AFHG is highly active for the ORR and exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity than graphene, nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) and amine functionalized graphene (AFG), which could be demonstrated from its higher current density and more positive half-wave and onset potentials for the ORR. Although AFHG also exhibits a slightly higher overpotential towards ORR, it is indeed more kinetically facile than the commercial JM Pt/C 40 wt%. Its higher electrochemical performance could be attributed to the presence of the electron donating group (e.g. amine) and a large number of holes in its sheet plate and the porous structure in its randomly stacked solid, which provide AFHG with higher electrical conductivity, more active edge N atoms and easier accessibility to oxygen, respectively. The stability measurements show that AFHG is more stable than graphene, NG, AFG and the JM Pt/C 40 wt% and exhibits higher immunity towards methanol crossover and CO poisoning than the JM Pt/C 40 wt%. Over 10 h of the ORR, AFHG loses only <7% of its original activity in the absence of methanol or CO, and the introduction of methanol or CO has no effect on its oxygen reduction activity, which makes it highly desirable as a metal-free catalyst for the ORR.

Cobalt oxide-coated N- and B-doped graphene hollow spheres as bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions

A simple and scalable method has been developed for the synthesis of Co3O4-coated N- and B-doped graphene hollow spheres (Co3O4/NBGHSs). These Co3O4/NBGHSs are highly active for both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions and can exhibit higher electrocatalytic activities and better durability than commercial Pt/C and RuO2/C, respectively, demonstrating them to be efficient bi-functional electrocatalysts. In-depth analysis shows that the coupling between Co3O4 and NBGHSs, strong interaction with adsorbed O2, high electric conductivity, and the specific hollow structure play important roles in imparting the higher electrocatalytic activities to the Co3O4/NBGHSs. When tested as cathode catalysts for Zn–air batteries, the Co3O4/NBGHSs exhibit better performance and higher stability than the Pt/C catalyst and other catalysts reported previously. This strongly suggests that the Co3O4/NBGHSs could be used as efficient electrocatalysts for metal–air batteries with great potential to replace precious metal/carbon based materials.

Synthesis of monodispersed Pt nanoparticles on plasma processed carbon nanotubes for methanol electro-oxidation reaction

Plasma-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been used as a substrate for the deposition of Pt nanoparticles. These Pt nanoparticles deposited on MWCNTs showed a higher catalytic activity in a methanol electro-oxidation reaction even with a lower amount of precious metal catalyst used. The higher catalytic activity is attributed to less damage of the carbon nanotubes during plasma treatment. It also shows that direct contact between metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes can improve the performance of composites.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Boron and Nitrogen Codoped Hollow Graphene Microspheres with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Boron and nitrogen codoped hollow graphene microspheres (NBGHSs), synthesized from a simple template sacrificing method, have been employed as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Because of their specific hollow structure that consists of boron and nitrogen codoped graphene, the NBGHSs can exhibit even high electrocatalytic activity toward ORR than the commercial JM Pt/C 40 wt %. This, along with their higher stability, makes the NBGHSs particularly attractive as the electrocatalyst for the ORR with great potential to replace the commonly used noble-metal-based catalysts.

Thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped antimony-borosilicate glasses

This paper reports on the optical spectroscopic properties and thermal stability of Er3+-doped antimony-borosilicate glasses for developing 1.5 microm optical amplifiers. Upon excitation at 980 nm laser diode, an intense 1.5 microm infrared fluorescence has been observed with the maximum full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 90 nm for Er3+-doped antimony-borosilicate glasses. The emission cross-section and the lifetime of the 4I13/2 level of Er3+ ions are 6.3 x 10(-21) cm2 and 0.30 ms, respectively. It is noted that the product of the emission cross-section and FWHM of the glass studied is as great as 567 x 10(-21) cm2 nm, which is comparable or higher than that of bismuthate and tellurite glasses.