Abstract

An expression is derived from first principles that indicates a 10⁴ improvement in the detection limit for trace metal analyses by use of crystalline energy transfer instead of normal luminescence methods. These calculations were experimentally verified by examining a crystal comprised of tris-(2,2'-bipyridine) zinc (II) dichloride [Zn(bipyr)₃Cl₂] as the host and tris-(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium (II) dichloride [Ru(bipyr)₃Cl₂] as the emitting guest. With this system subnanogram levels of ruthenium could be measured. To verify the possibility of crystalline energy transfer quenching analysis a three component crystal was examined that had a fixed concentration of the ruthenium chelate and a varying amount of tris-(2,2'-bipyridine) iron (II) dichloride [Fe(bipyr)₃Cl₂] as the quenching agent. With this system nanogram levels of iron could be measured.

Quantum cutting in Li (770 nm) and Yb (1000 nm) co-dopant emission bands by energy transfer from the ZnO nano-crystalline host

M. V. Shestakov, V. K. Tikhomirov, D. Kirilenko, A. S. Kuznetsov, L. F. Chibotaru, A. N. Baranov, G. Van Tendeloo, and V. V. Moshchalkov
Opt. Express 19(17) 15955-15964 (2011)

Spectrochemical Determination of Trace Metals in Biological Material*

Jacob Cholak and Robert V. Story
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 31(12) 730-738 (1941)

Fluorescence near metal tips: The roles of energy transfer and surface plasmon polaritons

Nader A. Issa and Reinhard Guckenberger
Opt. Express 15(19) 12131-12144 (2007)

Concentration-dependent energy-transfer processes in Er³⁺- and Tm³⁺-doped heavy-metal fluoride glass

C. Y. Chen, R. R. Petrin, D. C. Yeh, W. A. Sibley, and J. L. Adam
Opt. Lett. 14(9) 432-434 (1989)

Nonlinear energy transfer in quantum dot and metallic nanorod nanocomposites

Mahi R. Singh and Chris Racknor
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 32(10) 2216-2222 (2015)