Richard Riman Research Group, Rutgers University New Brunswick
Summer 2016 – Fall 2017
Skills
Lab: X-Ray Diffraction, Photoluminescence Spectra, Hydrothermal/Solvothermal Synthesis
Computer: MATLAB, OriginPro, PowerPoint
Language: Public Speaking, Research Poster
Team
Paired with Post-Doc
Deliverables
Winner at the MS&T 2018 Student Speaking Contest
Related work in ACS Appl. Electron. Mater
Poster at Rutgers Aresty Summer Science Symposium
Competing and placing at the MS&T 2018 Student Speaking Competition.
In order to discover an alternative to the well known NaYF4 host, I researched several host and dopant combinations in rare earth doped nano and microparticles, often focusing on the KYb2F7 host.
The ladder-like electron structure of rare earth elements results in long luminescent lifetimes and multiphoton absorption, allowing for the phenomenon, photo upconversion, to occur. During upconversion, incident lower energy light is stored and released together at higher energy. This process usually converts NIR to visible or UV range and has applications in bioimaging, since NIR excitation is absorbed less by tissue and the particles avoid issues of photobleaching and toxicity.
Upconversion from NIR 980 nm to visible light from Thulium doped microparticles.
Often as the sole student on the project, my involvement stretched from synthesis to characterization. Synthesis through hydrothermal and solvothermal methods were multistep and included very sensitive mass concentrations. XRD characterization was conducted to confirm host crystal and lattice distortion relevant to dopant. Photoluminescence data was collected over ranges of wavelengths to compare luminescence strength and lifetimes.
Photoluminence scan in the NIR to UV range comparing K and Na hosts for Er dopants demonstrating higher intensity for the K host.
Photoluminence scan in the NIR to UV range comparing K and Na hosts for Tm dopants demonstrating inconsistencies in the UV and visible range.
Deliverables of this research included placing at the MS&T 2018 conference student speaking competition and a summer research poster at Rutgers University.
Relevant work resulted in a publication in the American Chemical Society Applied Electronic Materials Journal (ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2019, 1, 11, 2325-2333).