In this present study, we proposed a smart biomineralization method for creating hybrid organic–inorganic nanoflowers using a Co2+-dependent enzyme (D-psicose 3-epimerase; DPEase) as the organic component and cobalt phosphate as the inorganic component. The prepared nanoflowers have many separated petals that have a nanometer size. Under optimum conditions (60 °C and pH of 8.5), the nanoflower can display its maximum activity (36.2 U/mg), which is about 7.2-fold higher than free DPEase. Furthermore, the immobilized DPEase presents enhanced pH and thermal stabilities. The DPEase-nanoflower maintained about 90% of its activity after six reaction cycles, highlighting its excellent reusability.
A novel near-infrared (NIR) downconversion (DC) phosphor KSrPO4:Eu2+, Pr3+ is synthesized by the conventional high temperature solid-state reaction. The Eu2+ acts as an efficient sensitizer for Pr3+ in the KSrPO4 host. With broadband near-ultraviolet light excitation induced by the 4f→5d transition of Eu2+, the characteristic NIR emission of Pr3+, peaking at 974 nm and 1019 nm due to 3P0→1G4 and 1G4→3H4 transitions, is generated as a result of the energy transfer from Eu2+ to Pr3+. The luminescence spectra in both the visible and the NIR regions and the decay lifetime curves of Eu2+ prove the energy transfer from Eu2+ to Pr3+. This Eu2+ and Pr3+ co-doped KSrPO4 phosphor may be a promising candidate to modify the spectral mismatch behavior of crystalline solar cells and sunlight.
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