Luminescent rare earth nanopowders

Materials, Cleantech
Licensing
Luminescent rare earth
nanopowders
These submicronic powders have unique luminescent properties that can
be tailor-made. Indeed pigments can lead to a large panel of colours,
depending on particle composition. They can be easily dispersed in
polymers, metals, papers and onto surfaces. Since the powder is very
thin, less material is needed for a same luminescent result.
Detailed description
Size of the spherical particles ranges from 50 to 800
nm with a narrow and monomodal size distribution
(no agglomerate). These particles are composed
of crystallites with a size ranging between 3 and
6 nm. They are stable against UV degradation and
temperature up to 900°C. Fluorescence properties
are slightly higher than classical micronic powders’
properties. Nanoscale powder is a handy product
which can be incorporated to thin films. Size of
the phosphor pigment is high enough to avoid any
modification of the mechanical properties of the
materials in which they are incorporated.
Manufacturing is based on the polyol method. Process
temperature is under 200°C (energy friendly) with
thermal treatment at 800°C, without formation
of agglomerate. Suspension concentration is over
50g.l-1. A wide range of composition is possible.
Advantages / Novelty
The process is easily transferable to high quantities
of powder (actually, possible production up to
1 kg). No residual organic product is obtained.
Quantity of solvant used is limited (economical and
environmental impact). Morphology and dispersion
are adapted to the new processes of coating and
shaping.
The laboratory’s know-How lies in the right choice
of solvent and manufacturing conditions to produce
the nanopowder. Specific powder composition is
available on demand.
Intellectual property
Patent pending in EP
Priority date: November 11, 2003 (EP04805525.5)
Research team
Olivier Tillement
Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Matériaux
Luminescents (LPCML) - INSA (Lyon) - CNRS
Pascal Perriat
Groupe d’Etudes de Métallurgie Physique et de
Physique des Matériaux (GEMPPM-MATEIS) – UMR
5510
Applications
Traceability (Plastic, paper, metal)
LED (light-emitting diode)
Catalyst and nuclear combustible
Pigments for paint and coating
Current stage of development
Production of nanopowder up to 1 kg.
Documentation
www.luminescent-rare-earth-nanopowder.com
Collaboration type
Lyon Science Transfert offers to grant Patent Licence
on production of rare earth oxide powders.
CONTACT
Philippe Roussel
Tel. +33 (0) 4 37 37 42 98
[email protected]
Lyon Science Transfert - Université de Lyon,
Quartier Sergent Blandan
37, rue du repos 69361 Lyon cedex 07 FRANCE