SYNTHESIS OF LaAlO3:Dy3+:Bi3+ NANOMATERIALS TO OPTICALLY MIMIC THE BIOLUMINESCENCE OF PHOTINUS SCINTILLANS (FIREFLY) AND ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATIONS

R. VENKATESH*, K. YASHASWINI*, L.S. REDDY YADAV**, G. NAGARAJU***,  A. JAYASHEELAN****#

*Department of Physics, BMS Institute of Technology and Management, Bangalore-560064, India

**Department of Chemistry, BMS Institute of Technology and Management, Bangalore-560064, India

***Department of Chemistry, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur-572 103, India

****Department of Physics, Maharani Cluster University, Bangalore-560001, India

Photinus scintillans is one of the species of fireflies, emits yellowish-green light with a peak wavelength of 575 nm. LaAlO3:Dy3+:Bi3+ nanomaterials prepared through sono-chemical process can serve as material for photo luminescence. The wavelength of light emitted by Photinus scintillans can also be obtained by optically exciting the synthesized sample with 353 nm wavelength. Dipole transition 4F9/26H13/2 gives photon of wavelength 576 nm, which is exactly same as that emitted by Photinus scintillans. The color chromaticity shows the yellowish green emission region of nanoparticles. This material can be used for the preparation of LEDs to emit a wavelength of 576 nm. When LEDs are prepared from this material, they can mimic the bioluminescence of fireflies. Thus, prepared nanoparticles can mimic the bioluminescence of Photinus scintillans fireflies. Both Dy doped and Bi co-doped samples at higher concentrations showed zone of clearance for Gram positive bacteria. Bi co-doped at higher concentrations had substantial inhibition across gram positive and negative bacterial colonies.

Key words: Photinus scintillans (fireflies), luminescence, nanoparticle, antibacterial activity

Corresponding author’s e-mail: jayasheelanwillbe@gmail.com

 

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