Creating Upconversion Fluorescent Materials from Rare Earth Elements
0:00 Introduction to the experiment: The goal is to create a material that glows through upconversion fluorescence, which involves shining low-energy infrared photons and emitting higher-energy visible photons. The project involves herum and urbium-doped yttrium oxide materials, as well as the synthesis of rare earth elements.
0:44 Lanthanides are central to upconversion. They have electrons in their F orbitals.
1:19 The electrons are shielded by the electron geometry, which means they don't release energy to the other shells.
2:18 Process of upconversion: Erbium ions are excited by a photon and then re-excited by another photon. The combined energy is then released as a photon with higher energy than the original two.
3:34 Application of upconversion materials: Biosensing, solar harvesting.
5:12 The method used: Solution combustion synthesis, which involves making oxidizers from rare earth materials, mixing them with fuel, and setting them on fire.
5:54 The process entails three steps: Nitrate salts are made, set on fire, then really heated to see the upconversion,
6:10 The presenter is looking to buy a laser for safety precautions for the process.
7:14 A stash of rare earth elements will be the focus of the experiment: yttrium, samarium, erbium, and gadolinium.
10:02 Diluted nitric acid is then added to the three metal materials: erbium, yttrium, and ytterbium.
11:33 The addition of a solution creates an end result of urbium, a pink color liquid.
12:53 The host intends to use a food dehydrator to evaporate the liquid.
14:32 A food dehydrator is used to remove water and acid vapor, followed by a desiccation for further drying.
15:37 The materials now consist of Yttrium and Herum.
16:43 Fuel is added to the oxidizers to drive the combustion reaction.
17:32 Glycine powder is used as a fuel for the combustion reaction.
19:17 From a collaborated paper, metal nitrates were mixed with a minimum amount of water in a pyrex glass.
20:44 Instead of using a muffle furnace, the host will put the ingredients over an open flame.
21:41 Deionized water is added as the solutions are boiled in the lab.
22:29 Once done, the synthesis of the turd like powder is complete.
23:35 The goal now is to use a laser to see if the experiment results in a successful combination.