The invention relates to a microarray design of hybrid upconversion nanoparticles on a nanoporous anodized alumina membrane heterogeneous assay for simultaneous detection of multiple oligonucleotides, for example, oligonucleotides from different types of viruses.

A scintillation crystal can include Ln.sub.(1-y)RE.sub.yX.sub.3, wherein Ln represents a rare earth element, RE represents a different rare earth element, y has a value in a range of 0 to 1, and X represents a halogen. In an embodiment, RE is Ce, and the scintillation crystal is doped with Sr, Ba, or a mixture thereof at a concentration of at least approximately 0.0002 wt. %. In another embodiment, the scintillation crystal can have unexpectedly improved linearity and unexpectedly improved energy resolution properties. In a further embodiment, a radiation detection system can include the scintillation crystal, a photosensor, and an electronics device. Such a radiation detection system can be useful in a variety of radiation imaging applications.

The present disclosure describes luminescent solar concentrators that include photoluminescent nanoparticles. The photoluminescent nanoparticles include a semiconductor nanocrystal that sensitizes the luminescence of a defect. The defect can include, for example, an atom, a cluster of atoms, or a lattice vacancy. The defect can be incorporated into the semiconductor nanocrystal, adsorbed onto, or otherwise associated with the surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal.

The present disclosure discloses, in one arrangement, a scintillator material made of a metal halide with one or more additional group-13 elements. An example of such a compound is Ce:LaBr.sub.3 with thallium (Tl) added, either as a codopant or in a stoichiometric admixture and/or solid solution between LaBr.sub.3 and TlBr. In another arrangement, the above single crystalline iodide scintillator material can be made by first synthesizing a compound of the above composition and then forming a single crystal from the synthesized compound by, for example, the Vertical Gradient Freeze method. Applications of the scintillator materials include radiation detectors and their use in medical and security imaging.

Systems and methods which provide anti-counterfeiting patterns tagged with multi-mode nanotaggants, such as may comprise single-mode nanoparticles, multi-mode nanoparticles, or a combination thereof, are described. The multi-mode nanotaggants of embodiments are configured to exhibit prescribed emissions by excitation at distinct stimulus wavelengths. Decryption of anti-counterfeiting patterns tagged with multi-mode nanotaggants of embodiments of the invention may be achieved by examining temporal color responses of the pattern to varying illuminations. In addition to the various color codes that may be encrypted into an anti-counterfeiting pattern using nanotaggants, embodiments provide various graphic codes that may be encrypted into anti-counterfeiting patterns. Such graphic codes may not only comprise the graphic pattern of the anti-counterfeiting pattern itself, but one or more graphic patterns of nanotaggants of the anti-counterfeiting pattern.

A luminescent composition includes a host matrix sensitized by Ce.sup.3+ and showing emission in the ultraviolet range. Typical host matrices include fluorides, sulphates, and phosphates, in particular A(Y.sub.1-x-yLu.sub.xLa.sub.y)F.sub.4, A(Y.sub.1-x-yLu.sub.xLa.sub.y).sub.3F.sub.10, BaCa(Y.sub.1-x-yLu.sub.xLa.sub.y).sub.2F.sub.10, and Ba(Y.sub.1-x-yLu.sub.xLa.sub.y).sub.2F.sub.8, wherein A=Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs. One or more of these luminescent compositions may be applied as a ceramic or single crystalline converter for CT, PET or SPECT scanners, or as a luminescent powder layer for x-ray intensifying screens.

The present disclosure relates to a scintillator, method for manufacturing the same and applications of scintillator. The scintillator has a chemical formula of Tl.sub.2ABC.sub.6:yCe, wherein A includes at least one alkali element; B includes at least one trivalent element; C includes at least one halogen element; and y is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or smaller than 1.

The present invention relates to scintillator compositions and related devices and methods. The scintillator compositions may include, for example, a scintillation compound and a dopant, the scintillation compound having the formula x.sub.1-x.sub.2-x.sub.3-x.sub.4 and x.sub.1 is Cs; x.sub.2 is Na; x.sub.3 is La, Gd, or Lu; and x.sub.4 is Br or I. In certain embodiments, the scintillator composition can include a single dopant or mixture of dopants.

The present disclosure relates to a process for fabricating a crystalline scintillator material with a structure of elpasolite type of theoretical composition A.sub.2BC.sub.(1-y)M.sub.yX.sub.(6-y) wherein: A is chosen from among Cs, Rb, K, Na; B is chosen from among Li, K, Na; C is chosen from among the rare earths, Al, Ga; M is chosen from among the alkaline earths, X is chosen from among F, Cl, Br, I; y representing the atomic fraction of substitution of C by M and being in the range extending from 0 to 0.05, comprising its crystallization by cooling from a melt bath comprising r moles of A and s moles of B, the melt bath in contact with the material containing A and B in such a way that 2s/r is above 1. The process shows an improved fabrication yield. Moreover, the crystals obtained can have compositions closer to stoichiometry and have improved scintillation properties.

A process for treating a luminescent halogen-containing material includes contacting the luminescent halogen-containing material with an atmosphere comprising a halogen-containing oxidizing agent for a period of at least about two hours. The luminescent halogen-containing material has a composition other than (i) A.sub.x[MF.sub.y]:Mn.sup.4+, where A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or a combination thereof; M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof; x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MF.sub.y] ion; and y is 5, 6 or 7; (ii) Zn.sub.2[MF.sub.7]:Mn.sup.4+, where M is selected from Al, Ga, In, and combinations thereof; (iii) E[MF.sub.6]:Mn.sup.4+, where E is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Ge, Si, Sn, Ti, Zr, and combinations thereof; or (iv) Ba.sub.0.65Zr.sub.0.35F.sub.2.70:Mn.sup.4+