Agata
Szczeszak
*a,
Małgorzata
Skwierczyńska
a,
Dominika
Przybylska
a,
Marcin
Runowski
a,
Emilia
Śmiechowicz
b,
Aleksandra
Erdman
c,
Olena
Ivashchenko
d,
Tomasz
Grzyb
a,
Stefan
Lis
a,
Piotr
Kulpiński
b and
Konrad
Olejnik
c
aAdam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Rare Earths, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. E-mail: agata_is@amu.edu.pl
bLodz University of Technology, Faculty of Material Technologies and Textile Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Informatics and Chemistry of Polymer Materials, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
cLodz University of Technology, Centre of Papermaking and Printing, Wólczańska 223, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
dNanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Wszechnicy Piastowskiej 3, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
First published on 3rd August 2020
The use of functional nanomaterials and their combination with organic polymers leads to the formation of advanced composites and hybrid inorganic–organic systems having unique properties. The use of such materials as anti-counterfeiting agents (invisible under ambient conditions) is crucial for modern security systems and for further identification of labelled items and documents in various industrial applications. Here, the fabrication of functional paper by in situ incorporation of luminescent cellulose fibres into its structure, during the formation of paper pulp, is shown. In order to produce luminescent fibres, an in situ modification is made during the spinning process, using lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (SrF2:Yb3+,Er3+). At first glance (in daylight), the functionalized paper cannot be distinguished from its unmodified form. However, when exposed to invisible near-infrared laser light (975 nm), bright green illumination appears. The modified paper preserves good mechanical durability, which is important for its potential for further processing in documents and other commercially available forms. Protecting documents and various materials with this kind of paper may open new horizons in materials engineering, forensics, and other industrial applications.
In the case of optical characteristics, lanthanide ions (mainly Ln3+) may exhibit multi-range luminescence (i.e. down-shifting) and upconversion luminescence in UV-Vis-NIR (ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared) spectral regions, long luminescence lifetimes, and large spectral shifts of the emission compared to excitation, etc.12–14,19,20 Upconversion is a non-linear optical process, i.e. the emission of anti-Stokes radiation, based on the absorption of two or more photons with lower energy and, then, emission of one photon with higher energy.15,21,22 Upconverting phosphors are worthy of particular attention because they allow the observation of visible light activated with lower energy NIR radiation, enabling “invisible activation of the visible effect,” which is very useful in various applications, especially in the field of advanced document protection and modern security systems.13 Two examples related to this field, in which luminescence (UV-excited) and upconversion (NIR-excited) luminescence of Ln3+-based materials can be used, include (I) luminescent dactyloscopic powders for advanced fingerprint detection and (II) luminescent inks working as anti-counterfeiting agents for banknote protection.23,24
In recent years, scientists have been working on the synthesis of a wide range of nanomodifiers for materials with various unique properties, providing innovative and highly functional composites.25–29 One of the continually growing areas of science is the development of high-quality nanophosphors, which can be incorporated into some polymer-based materials, such as fibres or paper. The composites obtained in this way can be used to protect paper (documents), banknotes, or textiles.13,23,24
Erdman et al. obtained UV-sensitive, optically active cellulose fibres containing 0.5% w/w Sr2CeO4, Gd2O3F6:5%Eu3+, or CeF3:5%Tb3+ nanoparticles (NPs), exhibiting blue, red, and green emission, respectively.30 The obtained fibres show high photoluminescence intensity under UV light irradiation, and the character of the compounds yields fibres that emit light of different colours. Li et al. obtained a new type of luminescent fibres, working as optical temperature sensors, based on the detection of fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR).31 The fibres contained upconverting NPs (NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+) working as optical temperature sensors. NPs were embedded in optical multi-mode quartz graded fibre, using fibre fusion technology. The presented results showed that the fabricated sensor has good sensing performance in the range of 40 to 80 °C. Reproducibility of the sensor's FIR parameter, confirmed during heating–cooling cycles, indicates good stability and reliability, which proves rationality for the construction of a luminescence fibre sensor. Such fibres can be used as temperature sensors in scientific applications, industry, and other areas.
Luminescent compounds and fibres, which provide new or additional functionalities, are also a focus of scientists involved in the development of new paper or paper-based composite products for special applications (e.g. authentication purposes, control of information circulation, storage of hidden information). Strong interest in these products is not simply due to the desired luminescent properties. One field of research is connected with surface modification of paper. Zuxue et al. obtained magnetic paper by coating its surface with Tb-doped germanium borosilicate glass.32 The glass modifier was ground into small particles and modified with graphene oxide by electrostatic interaction. This type of paper can be used for information storage or industrial security. Research shows that magnetic paper has been successfully produced, and its mechanical properties were also improved by the performed modification. Another possibility for paper functionalization is to introduce other types of fibres, with different properties, into the paper structure. Shi and Wang obtained a paper composite with carbon fibres.33 The modification enhanced the mechanical properties of the paper and had a negligible effect on the electrical properties. Chang et al. obtained polyaniline and zirconium phenylphosphonate-modified cellulose fibres, which may be used for flexible paper-based electrodes.34
Nevertheless, modification of paper structure with luminescent fibres (containing functional NPs) is one of the most interesting advanced paper applications for document protection and other security purposes. The fibres, being a security agent in paper, can be made of natural or synthetic polymers, while luminescence modification can be done by dying the surface of the fibres or incorporating luminescent material into the polymer mass during the fibre formation process.35,36
Luminescent lyocell fibres, obtained earlier by our research group, have many advantages related to their biodegradability because they utilize the same compound present in natural fibres used in paper production, i.e. cellulose.37 This means lyocell fibres could have better binding properties. These properties can be further increased by fibre fibrillation during the refining process. Interestingly, fibrillation and partial damage of lyocell fibres during the refining operation does not affect their luminescence properties. Moreover, we obtained paper-containing artificial fibres showing UV-excited luminescence properties, which allows us to estimate fibre orientation on-line production during the paper manufacturing process.38 In this work, we show that the presence of luminescent fibres incorporated in paper may have applications other than security, which are of crucial importance from the point of view of the paper production process.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the possibility of manufacturing upconverting paper, protected by gently incorporated fibres and functionalized with NIR-excited luminescent NPs, exhibiting the upconversion phenomenon. The presented article discusses the paper composite production with special and highly efficient luminescence properties, obtained by incorporating lyocell fibres with upconversion properties into the paper mass.
Cellulose pulp (Rayonier Ltd) containing 98 wt% of α-cellulose, with an average polymerization degree of about 1250 DP, and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO), as a 50% aqueous solution (from Huntsman Holland BV, the Netherlands), were used for the preparation of the spinning dope. The propyl ester of gallic acid (Tenox PG®) from Aldrich (Gillingham, Dorset, UK) was applied as an antioxidant.
Commercial bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pine pulp was used for laboratory paper sample production. Pulp was obtained from one of the Polish paper mills in the form of sheets with a dryness of about 93.3%. The pulp was disintegrated according to ISO 5263-3:2004 standard and refined in a PFI laboratory mill according to ISO 5264-2:2011.
Emission spectra were recorded using an Andor Shamrock 500 spectrometer connected to a Peltier-cooled Andor Indus (silicon) CCD (charge-coupled device) camera. A fibre-coupled, solid state diode pumped (SSDP) continuous wave (CW) NIR 975 laser was used as the excitation source. Luminescence decay curves were measured using an Opolette 355LD UVDM tuneable laser (with a repetition rate of 20 Hz) and a QuantaMasterTM 40 spectrophotometer using a Hamamatsu R928 photomultiplier detector. An optical microscope, Delta Optical IPOS-810, with a CCD camera was used for imaging cellulose fibres.
To prepare the cellulose solution, a high-efficiency laboratory-scale Ikavisk kneader (IKAVISC kneader type MKD 0.6-H60; IKA-ANALYSENTECHNIK, Heitersheim, Germany) was used. The operating volume of this apparatus is about 300 mL. The system is equipped with temperature sensors, a stirrer, and a torque moment counter (for measurement of torsional moment). These parameters are recorded by a computer. A laboratory-scale spinning machine was used to produce the fibres, which were formed by the dry–wet method, using a spinneret with 18 orifices.
Fluorescence measurements were performed with a confocal laser scanning microscopy system, LSM 780 (Zeiss), equipped with a femtosecond tuneable infrared laser for two-photon excitation. The images were taken in reflection mode, at excitation wavelengths of 980 and 405 nm, using a Plan-Apochromat 63×/1.40 oil immersion objective. The fluorescence spectra were recorded in lambda-mode, excitation wavelength 980 nm.
Zwick materials tensile testing machines, type BZ2.5/TN1S (Ulm, Germany) with TestXpert v. 7.1 software, were used as a powerful, flexible, and cost-effective tensile testing solution for fibres. The linear density of the fibers was determined according to ISO 1973:1995 (E), and the conditioned tenacity and elongation at break were measured according to PN-85/P-04761/04. Laboratory paper sheets of 70 g m−2 were formed in a Rapid-Köthen apparatus, according to standard ISO 5269-2:2004. Samples were, then, conditioned at 23 ± 1 °C and 50 ± 2% RH, according to standard ISO 187:1990.
Paper samples were formed in the laboratory using the Rapid-Köthen apparatus. Surface roughness of the samples was measured according to ISO 8791-2:2013 standard. Air permeability of paper samples was estimated according to ISO 5636-3:2013 standard.
DLS measurements revealed that the hydrodynamic diameter of the FM NPs (in water, room temperature) are predominantly in the range 75–120 nm (Fig. S2, ESI†). Based on the results of TEM measurements, FM NPs in water exist as agglomerates of approximately 8–34 NPs (or 2–3 NPs in agglomerate diameter). This result, as well as zeta potential value (−19.5 ± 8.1 mV; Table S2, ESI†), indicates that FM is suitable for use (in the modification process of cellulose fibre) in aqueous media from a technological point of view. However, a negative zeta potential (−20 mV) at physiological pH confirms the stability of NPs as water colloids (Table S1, ESI†).
The synthesized FMs were introduced into the fibre matrix, neither disturbing the spinning process nor destroying the final form of the fibres. In order to prove the high quality of the modified fibres, the mechanical properties of standard cellulose fibres (spun without any modifier), as well as fibres modified with NPs, were determined. Measurements of conditioned tenacity and elongation at break are shown in Table 1.
Sample | Linear density [tex] | Tenacity [cN/tex] | Standard deviation for tenacity | Elongation at break [%] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre without FM | 1.060 | 31.65 | 5.23 | 1.30 |
Fibre with 5% FM | 1.252 | 33.88 | 4.97 | 0.55 |
Tenacity of the fibres with 5% FM increased by about 7%, compared to the fibre without FM, which is connected with a good distribution of the modifier NPs in the polymer matrix of the fibres without any FM aggregations.
The lower value of elongation at the break of the modified fibres has less influence than elasticity of the modified ones. Lower elongation at break values of modified fibres, compared with unmodified ones, have also been reported in the case of the fibres modified with other inorganic luminescent modifiers.41
Fibre morphology was analysed using SEM, which enables characterization of the FM NP distribution enclosed in a polymer matrix of cellulose fibres. SEM images and photographs were taken with a camera, showing that the FM (white spots) is well distributed in the whole volume of the fibre polymer matrix (Fig. 1b–d and Fig. S3, ESI†).
EDX enables identification of particular elements of the FM incorporated in the modified fibres (Fig. 2). The chemical composition in certain areas of the selected fibre indicated the presence of Sr, F, Yb, and Er in the polymer matrix of the cellulose fibres. The applied modifier was well distributed in the polymer matrix. Once again, uniform distribution of the FM was demonstrated, without forming any FM aggregates. Such behaviour of the FM ensures uniform luminescent properties over the entire length and volume of the fibres. Additionally, ICP-OES analysis shows that the composition of FM agrees with the stoichiometry of the compound and amount of precursor used (Table S2, ESI†).
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Fig. 2 EDX analysis: SEM images of the fibre cross section with SrF2:Yb3+,Er3+ NPs, where the SEM image (a1) demonstrates the presence of strontium (a), fluoride (b), ytterbium (c), and erbium (d). |
Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to investigate fluorescence properties of the modified fibre, visualize FM NPs, and estimate their distribution within the cellulose matrix. For this aim, the modified fibre was investigated in reflection mode, at excitation wavelengths of 980 (to visualize FM NPs) and 405 (to visualize cellulose matrix) nm. A laser wavelength of 405 nm was utilized to excite autofluorescence (native fluorescence) emission of cellulose.42 As seen (Fig. 3a), the modified fibre exhibits luminescence after excitation at 980 nm. Multiple bright dots, FM NPs, are homogeneously distributed within the fibre volume. In contrast to FM NPs, the cellulose matrix, excited at 405 nm, emits fluorescence evenly. This approach allowed us to distinguish fluorescence originating from FM NPs and cellulose matrix.
In continuation of this experiment, the fluorescence spectra were recorded in two regions of the modified fibre (Fig. 3b). The spectra are similar, revealing three emission bands centred at approximately 522, 546, and 653 nm. These bands were related to Er3+ ions’ emission, indicating 2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2, and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions.
In summary, the results of confocal laser scanning microscopy measurements demonstrated green emission of modified fibres after NIR excitation, characteristic for Er3+ ions. Further, the FM NPs are distributed homogeneously within the cellulose matrix, what is in good agreement with SEM EDS mapping results.
In order to determine the impact of cellulose luminescent fibre additives on the paper structure, the following properties were tested: surface roughness and air permeance. The results are presented in Table 2 and Fig. 4. The presence of luminescent lyocell fibres resulted in an increase of surface roughness and air permeance, which is beneficial in some applications, e.g. membrane technology. The increase of these parameters is the highest for paper containing 10 wt% of the lyocell fibres in mass. The surface roughness increased, in this case, by ∼1.5 times and the air permeance by 3 times. Lyocell fibres mixed with paper pulp create a more porous paper structure, which means air can easily penetrate it, and surface roughness increases.
FM [%] | Surface roughness (Bendsten) [mL min−1] | Air permeance (Bendsten) [mL min−1] |
---|---|---|
0 | 278 ± 21 | 1807 ± 67 |
0.5 | 404 ± 33 | 1746 ± 70 |
1 | 395 ± 49 | 1772 ± 41 |
3 | 462 ± 41 | 2001 ± 39 |
5 | 590 ± 88 | 2120 ± 51 |
10 | 836 ± 68 | 2648 ± 94 |
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Fig. 4 Basic physical properties of paper samples at different concentrations of luminescent lyocell fibres: (a) surface roughness and (b) air permeance. |
Spectroscopic properties of the obtained fibres, modified with SrF2:Yb3+,Er3+ NPs, were analysed based on the upconversion emission spectra and luminescence lifetimes (see ESI†), recorded at λexc = 975 nm (Fig. 5a, and Fig. S4, S5, ESI†). In this system, Yb3+ ions act as sensitizers (light harvesting ions), effectively absorbing NIR light (see Fig. S4 and S6, ESI†) and transferring it (via energy transfer upconversion mechanisms) to the emitting Er3+ ions. The spectra, typical for Er3+ ions, show three intense bands centred around 525, 550, and 650 nm, related to the 2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2, and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions, respectively (Fig. 5a). The calculated chromaticity coordinates, x = 0.191 and y = 0.565, were pointed in the yellow-green region (Fig. 5b). The luminescence colour was established as greenish, which can be observed in the photographs, where the modified fibres are irradiated with a laser at λexc = 975 nm (Fig. 5b, c and Fig. S3, S7, ESI†). The emission colour of the modified fibres is shifted slightly to the green region compared with the pure modifier, confirming the difference in the relative emission intensity between the bands located in the green spectral region (2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2) and red region (4F9/2 → 4I15/2) for both samples. This is due to several reasons, such as (I) different light scattering on pure NPs compared to modified fibre; (II) reabsorption of emitted light by the fibre; and (III) a difference in power of the incident laser beam, caused by the initially mentioned effects (I and II), which, in the case of non-linear upconversion, may change the shape of the spectrum.
Upconversion of cellulose fibres was used as an additional (invisible, “secret”) modifier to paper sheets.
The modification and application of different contents of modified fibres shows that the addition of even 0.5 wt% fibre is enough to observe greenish emission in the paper with the naked eye. As expected, as the concentration of upconverting fibres increases, the luminescence properties of the paper are more visible, due to the higher density of fibres in the paper sheet (Fig. 6 and Fig. S7, ESI†).
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Fig. 6 Photographs of modified paper sheets taken with a CCD camera coupled to an optical microscope. |
Footnote |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/d0tc02050h |
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2020 |