The ability of Pr3+-doped Y2SiO5 nano- and microcrystalline phosphor systems to convert visible light into UVC radiation has been demonstrated, generating a new form of light-activated antimicrobial technology.  With effective biocidal utility necessitating great advances in conversion efficiency, we have begun to engineer the next generation of antimicrobial upconversion materials utilizing rare earth oxyfluoride host crystals.  Numerous systems of YxOx-1Fx+2 and LuxOx-1Fx+2 Vernier phases doped with Pr3+ have been synthesized and studied.  Visible-to-UV upconversion efficiencies several times greater than the silicate phosphors were observed, which was attributed to reductions in non-radiative multiphonon relaxation.  The improved conversion efficiencies also resulted in enhanced surface microbial inactivation under fluorescent lamp exposure, thus advancing this technology closer to real world application.

New host crystal systems for improved antimicrobial visible-to-UVC upconversion phosphors

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.