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Disposable aluminum cans and plastic bottles are common wastes found in modern societies. This article shows that they can be upcycled into functional materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and hierarchical porous carbon nanomaterials for high-value applications. Through a solvothermal method, used poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles and aluminum cans are converted into MIL-53(Al). Subsequently, the as-prepared MIL-53(Al) can be further carbonized into a nitrogen-doped (4.52 at%) hierarchical porous carbon framework. With an optical amount of urea present during the carbonization process, the carbon nanomaterial of a high specific surface area of 1324 m2 g−1 with well-defined porosity can be achieved. These features allow the nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon to perform impressively as the working electrode of supercapacitors, delivering a high specific capacitance of 355 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in a three-electrode cell and exhibiting a high energy density of 20.1 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 225 W kg−1, while simultaneously maintaining 88.2% capacitance retention over 10,000 cycles in two-electrode system. This work demonstrates the possibility of upcycling wastes to obtain carbon-based high-performance supercapacitors. [Display omitted] • Upcycle used PET bottles and aluminum cans into the nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbons. • Prepared carbon as supercapacitor electrode delivers a high energy density of 20.1 Wh/kg. • Well-defined porous carbon framework is vital to the excellent supercapacitive performance. • This work paves an effective environmental-friendly way to prepare carbon-based supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2 at.% Tm, xat.% Dy:Y 2 O 3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1) transparent ceramics were fabricated via vacuum sintering. The microstructural properties of the prepared ceramics were determined using XRD and SEM. The absorption cross-section of 2 at.% Tm, 1 at.% Dy:Y 2 O 3 ceramic was 0.53 × 10−20 cm2 with the FWHM of 43.59 nm. The increased cross-section originates from a large overlapping range appearing in the absorption spectrum of the Dy3+:6H 15/2 → 6F 5/2 and Tm3+:3H 6 →6H 4 transitions. The J-O intensity parameters Ω 2 , Ω 4 and Ω 6 and the fluorescence characteristics of the pivotal luminescent level of the Dy3+ ions were investigated. Under 793 nm excitation, the emission cross section of the Tm,Dy:Y 2 O 3 ceramic at 3094 nm was 3.63 × 10−21 cm2 with the FWHM of 355 nm. The fluorescence lifetimes of Dy3+:6H 13/2 level of 2 at.% Tm, xat.% Dy:Y 2 O 3 (x = 0.1, 0.5 and 1) ceramics were fitted to be 357 μs, 282 μs and 149 μs, respectively. In order to explore the quenching mechanism of Tm3+:3F 4 level, the fluorescence lifetimes of Tm3+:3F 4 of the 2 at.% Tm, xat.% Dy:Y 2 O 3 ceramics (x = 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1) were measured to be 4.878 ms, 462 μs, 104 μs and 61 μs, respectively. The possible energy transfer mechanisms between Tm3+ and Dy3+ ions are discussed. The results show that adding Tm3+ ions to Dy:Y 2 O 3 ceramics can effectively enhance the 2.9 μm MIR through energy transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YScO 3 single crystal co-doped with Ho3+ and Pr3+ ions has been successfully grown by the Czochralaki method. The absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence decay curve were measured at room temperature. The absorption cross section of Ho,Pr:YScO 3 at 649 nm and 1130 nm was calculated to be 0.93 × 10−20 cm2 and 0.32 × 10−20 cm2, respectively. Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory was performed to evaluate the spontaneous emission probabilities and the radiative lifetimes. Ho,Pr:YScO 3 exhibited strong emission at 2040 nm and 2890 nm with a emission cross section of 0.80 × 10−21 cm2 and 1.22 × 10−20 cm2, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of the Ho3+:5I 6 and 5I 7 levels were calculated to be 0.31 ms and 5.89 ms, respectively. All the results indicate that the Ho,Pr:YScO 3 crystal could be a potential laser material for 2.9 μm laser operation. • Ho3+,Pr3+ co-doped YScO 3 was grown by the Czochralski method. • The crystal structure, absorption and emission spectra were investigated. • The effect of Pr3+ on the spectroscopic properties of Ho3+ was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality Pr3+ single-doped PbF 2 and Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped PbF 2 single crystals were grown by temperature gradient technique (TGT). By co-doping Yb3+ ion as Pr3+ ions sensitizer, the visible light emission can be regulated and the largest luminescence branching ratio can be switched from red-orange to blue-green light. Besides, when Pr3+ ions doping concentration is as low as possible, the blue light self-absorption effect can be weakened, which is beneficial to high-efficiency blue laser output. Moreover, the broad band emission around 1.3 μm from 1G 4 energy level can be observed in the Pr3+/Yb3+:PbF 2 crystal with the low maximum phonon energy for the first time. Absorption, emission spectra and luminescence mechanism are well analyzed by the energy transfer process and J-O theory. The laser upper energy level lifetime of Pr3+ ions has a great increase by Yb3+ ion effect. These advantageous spectroscopic characteristics show that the Pr3+/Yb3+:PbF 2 crystal might be potential laser gain materials for blue-green and ∼1.3 μm near-IR laser operation. • By co-doping Yb3+ ion as sensitizer for Pr3+ ions, the visible light emission can be regulated and the largest luminescence component ratio can be changed from red-orange light to blue-green light. • When doping concentration of Pr3+ ion is as low as possible, the self-absorption effect of blue light can be weakened, which is beneficial to high-efficiency blue laser output. • The broad band emission around 1.3 μm from 1G 4 energy level can be observed in the Pr3+/Yb3+: PbF 2 crystal with the low maximum phonon energy for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tm3+, Pr3+ co-doped Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 (Tm,Pr:BGO) crystals with various Pr3+ doping concentration were successfully grown using the micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) method. The use of Pr3+ co-doping for deactivating the Tm3+ ions at 1.5 μm emission was investigated in the BGO single crystal for the first time. The effect of Pr3+ concentration on the spectroscopic properties of Tm,Pr:BGO crystals were demonstrated. In addition, the fluorescence lifetime of Tm3+:3F 4 level of 0.5 at.% Pr, 2 at.% Tm:BGO crystal was quenched effectively (from 5.64 ms down to 0.36 ms) and the population inversions between Tm3+:3H 4 and 3F 4 levels are enhanced to achieve a four-level laser system at 1.5 μm. • Tm,Pr:BGO crystals with different Pr3+ concentration were grown using by the micro-pulling-down method. • The effect of Pr3+ concentration on the spectroscopic properties of Tm,Pr:BGO crystals was studied. • The use of Pr3+ co-doping for deactivating the Tm3+ ions at 1.5 μm emission was investigated in BGO crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tm3+-doped bismuth germanate crystals (Tm:BGO) with various doping concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 at.% were grown by the micro-pulling-down method (μ-PD). The effect of thulium concentration on the growth, structure, absorption spectra, emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime of 3H 4 and 3F 4 state was studied. Under excitation of 792 nm, Tm:BGO crystals exhibit two fluorescence bands corresponding to the 3H 4 → 3F 4 and the 3F 4 → 3H 6 transitions. The fluorescence lifetime of 3H 4 state decreased strongly as the thulium concentration increased, while the lifetime of 3F 4 state was relatively constant for all thulium concentrations. • Tm:BGO crystals with different Tm3+ concentration were grown by the micro-pulling-down method. • The effect of Tm3+ concentration on the growth, structure and spectroscopic properties of Tm:BGO crystals was studied. • Tm:BGO crystals exhibit two fluorescence bands corresponding to the 3H 4 → 3F 4 and the 3F 4 → 3H 6 transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]