A novel single-phase white-emitting phosphor La10(SiO4)6O3 (LSO): xEu has been synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction. Its crystal structure, luminescence properties, fluorescence decay time and oxygen vacancies have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. XRD result shows a typical oxyapatite structure with the space group of P63/m. Characteristic excitation and emission peaks of Eu2+ and Eu3+ were observed from PL studies. The optimum doping concentration of Eu was found to be 7.5 mol% (x = 0.075). In this work, the lifetimes of Eu3+ and Eu2+ were considerably longer than those from some references. Under the excitation of different near ultraviolet (n-UV) longer wavelengths (λex = 360, 370, and 380 nm), the white light emission can be realized with the CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.3907, 0.3595), (0.3472, 0.3282), and (0.3504, 0.3062) for the phosphor LSO: 0.075Eu. The chromaticity coordinates of the phosphor were all located in the white region. Therefore, it is suggested that the explored LSO: 0.075Eu phosphor can be a good candidate for white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs) application.

A novel MgSrLa8−x(SiO4)6O2:xEu (MSLSO:xEu) phosphor was synthesized through a high-temperature solid-state reaction. The crystal structures, luminescent properties, fluorescence decay time, and oxygen vacancies were investigated systemically. XRD analysis shows a typical oxyapatite structure with the space group P63/m. Europium can enter crystal matrices simultaneously in the form of Eu3+ and Eu2+ and occupy nonequivalent crystallographic positions in a lattice, thus forming various optical centers. Under ultraviolet light excitation, the phosphors simultaneously show the blue-green emission of Eu2+ and the green-yellow-red emission of Eu3+. The optimal doping content of Eu is 7.5 mol% (x = 0.075). White light can be realized with a CIE coordinate of (0.3664, 0.3260) by adjusting the concentration of Eu. The lifetimes of Eu3+ and Eu2+ in this study are considerably longer than those in other references. The results suggest that the MSLSO:Eu2+/Eu3+ (0.075) phosphor is a promising candidate for white LEDs.

•A feasible method to realize the Ag-In2O3 nanostructure in the sodium borosilicate glass.•A high transmittance is exhibited in the glass incorporating with Ag-In2O3 nanostructure.•An enhanced fluorescence is observed in the glass incorporating with Ag-In2O3 nanostructure.•A mechanism on how the formation of the Ag-In2O3 nanostructure is given.Sodium borosilicate glass incorporated with Ag-In2O3 nanostructures (Ag-In2O3 glass), which is prepared through sol-gel method plus a controlled gas, is a highly transparent to realize the enhanced fluorescence. Microstructure analysis of the glass show that the In elements exist in the non-crystalline In2O3 forms, however, the Ag elements exist in the Ag crystalline nanoparticles that have small size, narrow distribution, and good dispersion in the glass. Comparing with the glass incorporated with individual Ag nanostructure (Individual Ag glass) and the pure sodium borosilicate glass (Pure glass), the Ag-In2O3 glass exhibits an enhanced fluorescence. The local electric field induced by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the Ag nanoparticles, the small particle size of the Ag nanoparticles, and the energy transfer between the Ag nanoparticles and In3+ ions can be ascribed to the enhanced fluorescence in the Ag-In2O3 glass. In addition, the crystallization of the glasses is also discussed in detail by combining each step of the annealing treatment.

•Cu2ZnGeS4 powders were prepared by the l-cystine-assisted solvothermal method.•Cu2ZnGeS4 powders consist of nanocrystal particles.•The Cu2ZnGeS4 powder had a broad absorption band with a band gap of 2.15 eV.Cu2ZnGeS4 powders were successfully synthesized via a mild solvothermal method using CuCl, ZnCl2, GeCl4, l-cystine, and N, N-dimethylformamide as the precursors to realize the process at 200 °C for 24 h. XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, and TEM were employed to characterize the microstructures and constituents of the as-obtained Cu2ZnGeS4 powders. The results showed that the crystalline phase of the as-obtained powders was Cu2ZnGeS4, and the size of the Cu2ZnGeS4 powders ranged from 100 to 200 nm. UV–vis absorption spectrum showed that the Cu2ZnGeS4 powders exhibited a broad absorption band with a band gap of 2.15 eV in the whole visible range.

CuIn1−xGaxS2 (x = 0.5) flowers consisting of nanoflakes were successfully prepared by a biomolecule-assisted solvothermal route at 220 °C for 10 h, employing copper chloride, gallium chloride, indium chloride and l-cysteine as precursors. The biomolecule l-cysteine acting as sulfur source was found to play a very important role in the formation of the final product. The diameter of the CuIn0.5Ga0.5S2 flowers was 1–2 μm, and the thickness of the flakes was about 15 nm. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction spectroscopy (SAED), and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The influences of the reaction temperature, reaction time, sulfur source and the molar ratio of Cu-to-l-cysteine (reactants) on the formation of the target compound were investigated. The formation mechanism of the CuIn0.5Ga0.5S2 flowers consisting of flakes was discussed.Highlights► We report for the first time a small biomolecule-assisted route using l-cysteine as sulfur source and complexing agent to synthesis CuIn0.5Ga0.5S2 crystals. ► The possible mechanisms leading to CuIn0.5Ga0.5S2 flowers consisting of nanoflakes were proposed. ► In addition, the morphology, structure, and phase composition of the as-prepared CuIn0.5Ga0.5S2 products were investigated in detail by XRD, FESEM, EDS, XPS, TEM (HRTEM) and SAED.

We report a facile method to realize the fabrication of Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 glass containing metallic Bi, Bi2O3 and Bi2S3 crystals. The microstructures of the glasses are investigated in detail by means of XRD, XPS, and TEM techniques. Furthermore, the third-order optical nonlinearities of the glasses are measured using femtosecond Z-scan technique at the wavelength of 800 nm with a pulse width 200 fs. Results show that the glasses exhibit the large third-order optical nonlinearities, and the third-order optical nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) of Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 glass containing metallic Bi, Bi2O3 and Bi2S3 crystals are determined to be 5.81 × 10−11 esu, 6.01 × 10−11 esu, and 8.71 × 10−10 esu, respectively. In particular, the third-order optical nonlinear absorption of the glasses are excellent, which have potential applications in the lasers as Q-switching elements and optical limiters.Highlights► The glasses containing the various kinds of Bi crystals are fabricated. ► The microstructures are studied by XRD, TEM, and XPS. ► Z-scan technique is used to measure the third-order optical nonlinearities. ► An excellent third-order nonlinear optical absorption.