Description

In this chapter, bismuth nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by the pulsed laser ablation technique at different pH in different aqueous solutions (namely, water (H), water + sodium hydroxide (HN), and water + hydrochloric acid (HC)). The NPs in aqueous solutions have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-Vis-NIR absorption techniques. The NPs are spherical, core shell, and hollow spheres in H, HN, and HC, respectively. The vibrational features have been studied using Raman technique and correlated with solid NPs, hollow NPs, core shell NPs, and NPs complex, etc. The Bi NPs were subsequently scattered with Tb3+ ions and their complex with salicylic acid (Sal) and 1,10-phenanthroline in aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol to get thin polymer films. Then photoluminescence properties of Tb3+ ions and the (Tb(Sal)3(Phen)) complex were studied using 266 nm and 355 nm as excitation wavelengths to seek into the influence of Bi NPs on their emissive properties. Terbium ions in case of (Tb(Sal)3(Phen)) complex together with NPs demonstrate an intense and extended emission spectrum in the 375–700 nm range for transition arising even from 5D3 and 5D4 levels to different 7FJ levels on 266 nm excitation. Alternatively, the luminescence intensity of Tb3+ ions complexed with Sal and Phen in the thin polymer films is improved appreciably as compared with Tb3+ ions in the presence of Bi NPs on excitation with 355 nm.

Chapter