Luminescent Cellulose Fibers Modified With Cerium Fluoride Doped With Terbium Particles

This article describes UV-active cellulose fibers obtained by dry-wet spinning method. The fibers have been formed from an 8% by weight cellulose solution in N-methylomorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) modified by Ce0.85Tb0.15F3 nanocrystals. The modifier was synthesized by wet chemical method, coprecipitation approach. The host was chosen as the most promising one for the green emitting Tb3+ ions. Photoluminescent nanoparticles were introduced into the polymer matrix during the process of dissolving cellulose in NMMO. The modifier occurred in the form of white paste, consisting of luminescent nanoparticles dispersed in glycerine. The dependencies between the concentration of nanocrystals, emission intensity, and excitation energy of the final cellulosic luminescent products were examined by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The size and structure of Ce0.85Tb0.15F3 nanocrystals were studied by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The real content of luminescent nanocrystals in the fibers was estimated as well. The influence of different concentrations of modifier particles (in the range from 0.5 to 5% by weight) on the mechanical properties of the fibers was determined. (C) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers