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  • A multiscalar photoluminescence approach to discriminate among semiconducting historical zinc white pigments.

A multiscalar photoluminescence approach to discriminate among semiconducting historical zinc white pigments.

The Analyst (2013-04-05)
Loïc Bertrand, Matthieu Réfrégiers, Barbara Berrie, Jean-Philippe Échard, Mathieu Thoury
ABSTRACT

In order to fully characterize the zinc white artists' pigment (ZnO), much used since the mid-nineteenth century, three samples collected in the early 20th century were studied using a combination of synchrotron and macroscopic photoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging. An improved microscope setup based on synchrotron microspectroscopy and microimaging was used to study the powders dispersed onto indium foil. The synchrotron setup offered a diffraction-limited resolution of 153 nm. The PL spectra of individual grains were measured and the distribution of particles' emission spectra was mapped at the nanoscale. The results revealed that while the samples have apparent homogeneous photoluminescence behavior at the macroscale (bulk), their PL signatures are inhomogeneous below 20 μm. At the nanoscale the three powder samples have quite different PL signatures. Different sources, perhaps even different batches, of zinc white might be readily differentiated using this method.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Indium, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.01mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.75mm, as rolled, 99.999%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 150x150mm, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.02mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 75x300mm, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.04mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.01mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.03mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.20mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.025mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.5mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.5mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.003mm, temporary acrylic support, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.025mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.006mm, temporary acrylic support, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.004mm, temporary acrylic support, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.025mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0125mm, temporary acrylic support, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.02mm, 99.8%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.008mm, temporary acrylic support, 99.8%
Indium, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 1.0mm, as rolled, 100%
Indium, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.8%