Prof. Sebastian Mahlik and his team have made a groundbreaking discovery in their article titled „Photoelectric Studies as the Key to Understanding the Non-Radiative Processes in Chromium Activated NIR Materials.“ They have uncovered mechanisms related to the quenching of luminescence in dielectrics doped with transition metal ions. By utilizing innovative photoelectric studies, they have gained insights into the quenching phenomena and their temperature dependencies. Contrary to previous beliefs, they have found that the thermal activation of luminescence quenching is not directly between the states of the dopant itself. Instead, it is associated with a previously overlooked phenomenon of dopant ionization, which surprisingly involves the creation of holes in the valence band rather than the thermal activation of electrons from the dopant to the conduction band. This discovery is crucial in understanding the optical properties of luminophores and is essential for designing new materials, especially in the context of potential applications.
The materials studied by Prof. Mahlik and his team have promising practical applications as emitters of near-infrared (NIR) radiation and detectors of UV radiation. Compared to traditional sources of infrared radiation like bulbs or halogen lamps, their proposed NIR-pc-LED diode sources stand out for their smaller size, higher efficiency, and lower operating temperature. These characteristics make them suitable for use in portable devices such as smartphones, opening up a wide range of practical applications. The new technologies will enable health monitoring, diagnosing body fat composition, assessing hydration levels, analyzing food freshness and quality, and identifying unwanted substances like pesticides, significantly improving food safety.
One of the co-authors of the publication is Dr. Mu-Huai Fang from Taiwan. The collaboration between Prof. Mahlik and Dr. Fang began over 8 years ago when Dr. Fang, as a graduate student of Professor Ru-Shi Liu at National Taiwan University, was assigned to lead a research task in a joint Polish-Taiwanese project. Dr. Fang’s task involved synthesizing luminescent materials and conducting and interpreting structural studies, while Prof. Mahlik’s team focused on spectroscopic research and modeling. Their collaboration has resulted in 30 joint publications, and Dr. Fang now leads his own research group at the Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica. They plan to continue working together on future research projects, delving deeper into the optical transitions in materials activated by transition metal ions and developing new research methods and potential applications for synthesized materials.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Prof. Sebastian Mahlik and Dr. Mu-Huai Fang has led to significant discoveries in the field of luminescent materials, with promising applications in various industries. Their innovative approach to understanding non-radiative processes and their dedication to further research and collaboration pave the way for exciting advancements in material science and technology.