High Quantum Yield Shortwave Infrared Luminescent Tracers for Improved Sorting of Plastic Waste.

More complete recycling of plastic waste is possible only if new technologies that go beyond state-of-the-art near-infrared (NIR) sorting are developed. For example, tracer-based sorting is a new technology that explores the upconversion or down-shift luminescence of special tracers based on inorganic materials codoped with lanthanide ions. Specifically, down-shift tracers emit in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral range and can be detected using a SWIR camera preinstalled in a state-of-the-art sorting machine for NIR sorting.

Power-dependent upconversion luminescence properties of self-sensitized ErWO phosphor.

A Yb free self-sensitized ErWO phosphor has been synthesized via a solid-state reaction method. The phosphor material, ErWO, has a monoclinic crystal structure with space group P2/c (13). The deconvoluted high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra of all the core elements in the ErWO phosphor material were explored.

Up/down conversion luminescence and charge compensation investigation of Ca0.5Y1-x(WO4)2:xLn(3+) (Ln=Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb/Er) phosphors.

Microstructures of Ca0.5Y(1-x)(WO4)2:xLn(3+) (Ln=Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb/Er) phosphors were prepared via the solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence were used to characterize the prepared phosphor samples.

Polycationic photosensitizer conjugates: effects of chain length and Gram classification on the photodynamic inactivation of bacteria.

Objectives: We have shown previously that a polycationic conjugate between poly-L-lysine and the photosensitizer chlorin(e6) was effective in photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this report we explore the relationship between the size of the polylysine chain and its effectiveness for mediating the killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods: Conjugates were prepared by attaching precisely one chlorin(e6) molecule to the alpha-amino group of poly-(epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl)lysines of average length eight and 37 lysine residues, followed by deprotection of the epsilon-amino groups, and were characterized by iso-electric focusing.