TY - CONF A1 - de Camargo, Andrea A1 - Arai, Marylyn Setsuko T1 - Upconversion nanoparticles for chemical, physical and biological sensing: from functionalization to point-of-care devices N2 - Among several applications, versatile upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) which can convert lower-energy infrared radiation into higher-energy visible or ultraviolet light, have emerged as one of the most powerful tools in the field of chemical, physical and biological sensing. The use of UCNPs in fluorescent sensors allows non-invasive, highly sensitive, and selective detection methods, which are particularly beneficial in environments requiring minimal interference and high precision for analytes that can range from metal ions to biomolecules. In this lecture, an overview and the state of the art will be given, accompanied by examples of our recent contributions to key areas such as chronic disease diagnostics, bacterial sensing, and multifunctionally responsive nanoplatforms: (1) An Enhanced Luminescence Lateral-Flow Assay (ELLA) designed for rapid (< 15 min) and early detection of acute kidney injury biomarkers in urine samples, using a commercial cell phone camera, will be presented. The platform is based on Er³⁺- and Tm³⁺-doped UCNPs whose emissions intensities are 40-fold enhanced by an Au-coated mesoporous silica shell, enabling the accurate detection of KIM-1 and NGAL biomarkers with detection limits as low as 0.23 ng/mL; (2) Also, a multifunctional nanoplatform that combines Tm³⁺-doped UCNPs with a Cu(I) complex for applications in oxygen sensing, optical thermometry, and emission colour tuning will be presented. The platform utilizes Luminescent Resonance Energy Transfer (LRET) to achieve efficient energy transfer, enabling red emission from the Cu(I) complex while allowing the use of the UCNP’s original emissions for thermometry. The dual functionality allows sensitive O2 detection and temperature measurements, with relative sensitivities of up to 1% K⁻¹; (3) The critical challenge of rapid bacterial detection and differentiation was addressed by the development of a novel UCNP-based sensor. By functionalizing UCNPs with the antibiotics - vancomycin for Gram-(+) and polymyxin-B for Gram-(-), and using Au nanoparticles as intensity quenchers, the sensor leverages a ratiometric "turn-on" mechanism for selective detection of the bacteria, through changes in the green/red (G/R) ratio for Er-UCNP@PEG4-Van, and blue/red (B/R) ratio for Tm-UCNP@PEG4-Poly. By this approach, differentiation was possible over a wide concentration range of bacteria (0.05 to 5 x 105 CFU/mL) with high correlation with actual bacterial counts (r = 0.99 for S. aureus, r = 0.91 for E. coli); (4) Recently, we have demonstrated a water dispersable ratiometric pH-nanosensor based on host-guest interaction of Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped UCNPs functionalized with b-cyclodextrin (b-CD) and a pH-responsive nitrobenzoxadiazol dye modified with adamantane (NBD-Ad). The sensor shows a ratiometric emission response (blue/red) over a pH range of 8.0 – 11.0 with high reproducibility, excellent reusability and selectivity, even in the presence of interferents. Together, the presented examples highlight the versatility and potential of UCNPs to develop novel sensors, offering measurable advances in diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and beyond. T2 - Shift2025 - Spectral shaping for biomedical and energy applications CY - Tenerife, Spain DA - 13.10.2025 KW - Upconverting nanoparticles KW - Fluorescent sensors KW - Point-of-care devices PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65282 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - de Camargo, Andrea T1 - Enhanced emission of Nd3+ by localized silver nanocluster growth via direct laser writing in Ga-fluoride phosphate glasses N2 - Gallium fluoride phosphate glasses are promising materials for optical applications in the visible to near infrared spectra due to their wide transmission window and ability to accommodate optically active dopants. In this study, melt quenched glasses in the compositional system 25Ga(PO₃)₃–20ZnF₂–30BaF₂–(25–x–y)SrF₂–xAgNO₃–yNdF₃ (x = 0 -10 mol%, y = 0 or 1 mol%) were studied and fully characterized by conventional and spectroscopic techniques to understand the interaction of silver species and Nd³⁺ ions. In Ag+ doped samples, the observation of a broad emission band in the visible spectrum evidences the overlapping presence of Ag⁺, Ag nanoclusters (NCs), and [Ag₂]²⁺ species. In the sample doped with 10 mol% Ag⁺, the development of a dark yellow color and alterations in the emission profile suggest the formation of Ag nanoparticles. In an attempt to control and increase the formation of Ag nanoclusters in a localized way, the glasses with 3 and 5 mol% Ag+ were subjected to direct laser writing (DLW) with femtosecond laser pulses at variable inscription intensities and scan speeds. As expected, the approach led to localized growth of Ag-NCs with precise spatial control and as a consequence, the Nd³⁺ emissions in the NIR region (e.g. at1060 nm) were significantly enhanced in laser-structured regions as compared to unmodified areas, evidencing efficient energy transfer from silver species to Nd³⁺ ions. These results demonstrate that DLW, applied for the first time in these glasses, enables precise spatial control over silver nanocluster formation, offering a viable route to process optical glasses for photonic applications. T2 - XXIII - B-MRS Meeting CY - Salvador, Brazil DA - 28.09.2025 KW - Fluoride phosphate glasses KW - Direct laser writting KW - Neodymium KW - Silver nanoclusters PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65281 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Shasmal, Nilanjana T1 - Effects of Direct femtosecond laser writing on chloroborosilicate glasses doped with Eu3+/Eu2+ and CdS quantum dots N2 - Femtosecond (fs) direct laser writing (DLW) is a promising technique for developing nano-inhomogeneous materials with advanced optical properties and for fabricating novel photonic devices such as integrated waveguides, ultrafast optical switches, phase plates, and 3D optical memory. In this study, DLW was applied to chloroborosilicate glasses that were singly and co-doped with Eu and CdS quantum dots (QDs). The glasses were laser-treated within a very narrow range of experimental conditions, resulting in laser-inscribed sites exhibiting enhanced emission, similar to the glass-ceramics crystallized from the as-prepared glass. In the regions crystalized by DLW a significant reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ was verified by photoluminescence spectroscopy. However, the characteristics of the emission bands of Eu2+ changed markedly in the laser-treated sites as compared to the emission spectra of the same glass crystallized by heat treatment. A considerable redshift and splitting of the emission band were observed, attributed to changes in the surrounding environment of the rare earth (RE) ions which was, in turn, attributed to an alteration in the coordination number of Ba2 + and/or Eu2+ as a result of the high-power laser treatment. Although there was an issue with homogeneity of the glass in the micro-level, which restricts some of the aspects of the DLW, these findings suggest the potential for structural modifications through laser treatment, which could be harnessed to create new functionalities for advanced optical applications. T2 - ICG 2025 (27th International Congress on Glass) CY - Kolkata, India DA - 20.01.2025 KW - Femtosecond direct laser writing KW - DLW KW - CdS quantum dots KW - Eu/CdS co-doped glass PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65285 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Abel, Andreas A1 - Rosalie, Julian A1 - Reinsch, Stefan A1 - Zapala, Pawel A1 - Michels, Heiner A1 - Skrotzki, Birgit T1 - Influence of Mo and B additions in intermetallic near-Fe3Al alloys on microstructure and mechanical properties N2 - Iron aluminides, already reported in the late 19th century, did not cease to attract the interest of scientists and engineers ever since. Besides good oxidation resistance, low density and resource availability, potentials for hightemperature strengths that compete with high-alloy steels were unlocked by low alloy contents. Still, research on alloy design continues, as alloying usually comes at the price of brittleness in low-temperature regimes. A potential candidate is the quinary Fe–Al–Mo–Ti–B system which is strengthened by solid solution and eutectic borides. It was shown to have good strength and outstanding creep resistance under compressive loading up to elevated temperatures. Although the individual effect of alloy additions is well understood in iron aluminides, little is known about the combined effects of alloying concentrations on microstructure, phase stability and mechanical properties. Therefore a systematic study of two Ti-doped near-Fe3Al alloys with varying contents of Mo (2–4 at.%) and B (0.5–1 at.%) was conducted. In total eight different alloys were fabricated by investment casting into ceramic shell molds. Alloys were characterized and compared by grain size, phase transitions, microstructure evolution as well as elemental compositions and volume fractions of phases. For mechanical characterization, macrohardness and microhardness tests as well as tensile tests at ambient and high tempera tures were conducted. Independent of alloy additions, alloys with 24–25 at.% Al exhibit superior proof strength due to a higher matrix hardness. Decreasing B content generally decreases strength by lower secondary phase fractions which contribute via particle hardening. Reducing Mo content decreases both the solute concentration in the matrix and secondary phase fractions. Surprisingly, strength is similar or even superior to alloys with higher Mo content. Strength relations are discussed with a focus on solid-solution hardening theory and other competing strengthening mechanisms. KW - Materials Chemistry KW - Metals and Alloys KW - Mechanical Engineering KW - Mechanics of Materials KW - General Chemistry PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-585284 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2023.108074 VL - 163 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-58528 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chahal, Shweta A1 - Xiao, Boyu A1 - Grant, Jessica A1 - Furniss, David A1 - Farries, Mark A1 - Phang, Sendy A1 - Neate, Nigel A1 - Robertson, Lorelei A1 - Roe, Martin A1 - Barney, Emma A1 - Seddon, Angela B. T1 - Ce3+-doped chalcogenide glass fibre for laser beyond 4 microns wavelength: Glass material-integrity N2 - The 4-μm wavelength barrier encountered for mid-infrared fibre lasing based on heavy metal fluoride glasses has been overcome. We reported, in 2021, the first continuous wave, mid-infrared fibre laser operating beyond 4 μm at room temperature in a fibre with a Ce3+-doped selenide-chalcogenide core. Defects, such as crystallites in the core glass, could cause unwanted light-scattering, diminishing fibre laser efficiency. It is important to identify such optical loss mechanisms and eradicate them. Here, we report on investigating the material nano-structure of a chalcogenide-glass lasing fibre which exhibits 7 mW laser power output; the fibre has a Ce3+-doped core (8.5 μm diameter), concentrically surrounded by an inner- and outer-cladding, where both cladding-glasses are nominally the same composition. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction show that the core, inner-cladding and outer-cladding of the lasing fibre are internally nano-crystallite-free and amorphous. However, the external outer surface of the last 10 m of fibre drawn, of the total 100 m, contains monoclinic GeSe2 crystallites adjacent to discrete, small (<0.5 mm) wrinkled defects. The final length of fibre is drawn from the final part of the glass fibreoptic preform. The glass preform has as its outermost component an extruded chalcogenide glass tube. It is the last part of the tube which spends the longest time at high temperature inside the extruder during tube manufacture, encouraging heterogeneous nucleation at the tube outer-surface in contact with the extruder. These heterogeneous nuclei subsequently nucleate crystal growth during fibre-drawing in the outermost fibre surface. KW - Optical glass KW - Photonics PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653371 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2025.117219 SN - 0925-3467 VL - 166 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-65337 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -