Programmable afterglow tuning in monodisperse SiO2 microparticles through spatially confined emitter doping

Xue Chen, Zhenyu Gong, Chenxi Peng, Tian Bai, Zhongbin Wu, Weidong Xu, Xiaowang Liu () and Wei Huang ()
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Xue Chen: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Zhenyu Gong: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Chenxi Peng: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Tian Bai: Northwest Institute for Non-Ferrous Metal Research
Zhongbin Wu: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Weidong Xu: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Xiaowang Liu: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Wei Huang: Northwestern Polytechnical University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Developing monodisperse microparticles with tailored afterglow properties is crucial for optoelectronic applications, achieving afterglow tuning in uniform microsized platforms remains a significant challenge. Here, we present programmable afterglow tuning in monodisperse SiO2 MPs through spatially confined emitter doping, creating core@shell@shell SiO2 MPs. By repeatedly performing pseudomorphic transformation, we achieve spatially confined doping of 4-phenylpyridine, 4,4’-bipyridine, and 1,8-naphthalimide into different layers. This method enables afterglow color output from blue to cyan and orange by shifting main excitation from 250 to 350 nm. It also allows tuning of afterglow lifetime and quantum yields of the dopants by gradually enhancing dopant-matrix interactions through repeating hydrothermal reactions. Additionally, altering the doping positions further controls the optical properties due to a combined screen effect by the outer SiO2 matrix and dopants. Our approach enables the creation of a versatile library of optically active SiO2 MPs with finely tuned properties, paving the way for advanced photonic crystal platforms for optical encoding and spontaneous emission regulation.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63901-5

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