An emission enhancement structure having at least one energy augmentation structure; and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom a light of a different energy than the received energy. The energy converter is disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure. Also described are various uses for the energy emitters, energy augmentation structures and energy collectors in a wide array of fields, including various adhesives applications.

An emission enhancement structure having at least one energy augmentation structure; and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom a light of a different energy than the received energy. The energy converter is disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure. Also described are various uses for the energy emitters, energy augmentation structures and energy collectors in a wide array of fields, especially in the field of solar cells and other energy conversion devices.

Persistent infrared (IR) phosphors are disclosed. In an embodiment a phosphor has the general formula: M1.sub.(m−k)Ga.sub.(2n−x−y−z)M2.sub.pO.sub.(rm+3n+2p:xSb.sup.3+,yM3,zD,kM4, wherein M1 is chosen from magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, zinc, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium, lutetium, or bismuth, or combinations thereof; M2 is chosen from silicon, germanium, tin, titanium, zirconium, or combinations thereof; M3 is chosen from magnesium, aluminum, indium, scandium, or combinations thereof; M4 is chosen from praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, or combinations thereof; D is chosen from chromium, iron, nickel, manganese, or cobalt, or combinations thereof; and wherein 1≤m≤4; 1≤n≤3; 0≤p≤5; 0.0002≤x≤2n; 0≤y≤2n; 0.0001≤z≤0.1; 0≤k≤0.1; and r is selected from 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3.

A fluorescent nanocomposite which includes a thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide having formula Tl.sub.xGd.sub.1-xY, wherein x is 0.01 to 0.1, and Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, or Te, and a benzothiazolium salt bound to a surface of the thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide. A method of detecting antimony ions in a fluid sample whereby the fluid sample is contacted with the fluorescent nanocomposite to form a mixture, and a fluorescence emission profile of the mixture is measured to determine a presence or absence of antimony ions in the fluid sample, wherein a reduction in intensity of a fluorescence emissions peak associated with the fluorescent nanocomposite indicates the presence of antimony ions in the fluid sample.

A fluorescent nanocomposite which includes a thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide having formula Tl.sub.xGd.sub.1-xY, wherein x is 0.01 to 0.1, and Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, or Te, and a benzothiazolium salt bound to a surface of the thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide. A method of detecting antimony ions in a fluid sample whereby the fluid sample is contacted with the fluorescent nanocomposite to form a mixture, and a fluorescence emission profile of the mixture is measured to determine a presence or absence of antimony ions in the fluid sample, wherein a reduction in intensity of a fluorescence emissions peak associated with the fluorescent nanocomposite indicates the presence of antimony ions in the fluid sample.

A fluorescent nanocomposite which includes a thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide having formula Tl.sub.xGd.sub.1-xY, wherein x is 0.01 to 0.1, and Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, or Te, and a benzothiazolium salt bound to a surface of the thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide. A method of detecting antimony ions in a fluid sample whereby the fluid sample is contacted with the fluorescent nanocomposite to form a mixture, and a fluorescence emission profile of the mixture is measured to determine a presence or absence of antimony ions in the fluid sample, wherein a reduction in intensity of a fluorescence emissions peak associated with the fluorescent nanocomposite indicates the presence of antimony ions in the fluid sample.

A fluorescent nanocomposite which includes a thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide having formula Tl.sub.xGd.sub.1-xY, wherein x is 0.01 to 0.1, and Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, or Te, and a benzothiazolium salt bound to a surface of the thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide. A method of detecting antimony ions in a fluid sample whereby the fluid sample is contacted with the fluorescent nanocomposite to form a mixture, and a fluorescence emission profile of the mixture is measured to determine a presence or absence of antimony ions in the fluid sample, wherein a reduction in intensity of a fluorescence emissions peak associated with the fluorescent nanocomposite indicates the presence of antimony ions in the fluid sample.

Currently, the known method of shortening the scintillation response of scintillation material is to suppress the amplitude-minor slower components of the scintillation response, whereas the possibilities of significant shortening of the amplitude-dominant component of the scintillation response in this method are limited. The invention concerns the method of shortening the scintillation response of scintillator luminescence centres which uses co-doping with Ce or Pr together with co-doping with ions from the lanthanoids, 3d transition metals, 4d transition metals or 5s.sup.2 or 6s.sup.2 ions group. Having had the luminescence centres electrons excited as a result of absorbed electromagnetic radiation, the scintillator created in this method is capable of taking away a part of the energy from the excited luminescence centres via a non-radiative energy transfer, which results in a significant shortening of the time of duration of the amplitude-dominant component of the scintillation response.

A wavelength converting structure is disclosed, the wavelength converting structure including a spinel type SWIR phosphor material having emission wavelengths in the range of 1000 to 1700 nm, the SWIR phosphor material including AE.sub.1-x-zA.sub.z+0.5(x-y)D.sub.2+0.5(x-y)-z-u E.sub.zO.sub.4:Ni.sub.y,Cr.sub.u where AE=Mg, Zn, Co, or Be, or mixtures thereof, A=Li, Na, Cu, or Ag, or mixtures thereof, D=Ga, Al, B, In, or Sc, or mixtures thereof, and E=Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, or Hf, or mixtures thereof; where 0≤x≤1, 0<y≤0.1, 0≤z≤1, 0≤u≤0.2.

A wavelength converting structure is disclosed, the wavelength converting structure including an SWIR phosphor material having emission wavelengths in the range of 1000 to 1700 nm, the SWIR phosphor material including at least one of a perovskite type phosphor doped with Ni.sup.2+, a perovskite type phosphor doped with Ni.sup.2+ and Cr.sup.3+, and a garnet type phosphor doped with Ni.sup.2+ and Cr.sup.3+.