Bioactive phosphate glass-based fiber with green persistent luminescence. (September 2022) - Lemiere, A.
Highlights: First biophotonic composite fiber with green persistent luminescence is drawn. The preforms were prepared by remelting the glass with the microparticles. The duration of the remelt step should be short to limit the decomposition of the phosphors. The presence of the microparticles in the glass inhibited the production of large fibers. Abstract: The first biophotonic composite fiber with green persistent luminescence is reported. The composites were drawn from preforms prepared by remelting a bioactive glass with commercial persistent luminescent microparticles (SrAl2 O4 :Eu 2+, Dy 3+ ). The duration of the remelt step should be as short as possible to limit the decomposition of the micro-phosphors during glass preparation, as evidenced using electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis. The presence of the phosphors in the glass inhibits the drawing of fibers with diameter below about 400 µm. Although the drawing process induces some changes in the Eu 2+ ions' local structure in the phosphors, the fibers still exhibit green afterglow. Despite the presence of the phosphors, the fiber still maintains its bioactive response, as characterized by the release of ions from the glass to the environment and the successive precipitation of a reactive layer within a dicalcium phosphate dehydrate composition. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract