PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-2821

Project financed by UEFISCDI Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation
Host institution: Politehnica University of Timişoara
Project type: Demonstration experimental project (PED)
Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-2821
Project registration number: 325PED/ 03.08.2020
Project title: Smart phosphorescent pigments for persistent glow-in-the-dark safety markings.
Acronym:  SAFEGLOW

About the project

The safety issue of public spaces and transportation means used by many people at once is very important nowadays in the context of increasing population and mobility. Emergency situations are often aggravated by the disorientation caused by the lack of visibility in the dark and continue to cause loss of human lives, be it in industrial spaces, education or leisure spaces, transportation on roads, on the water, in the air or underground. Evacuation ways and signs are often electric energy-dependable and sometimes fail to be efficient because of power outage in emergency situations. An off-grid alternative to the classical light indicators is represented by the glow-in-the-dark safety markings, which only need UV and/or VIS light to “charge” and can emit light for a reasonable amount of time in the dark, enough to guide people to safety. They often come in the form of floor and stair stripes, written indicators or direction pointers showing exact location and nearest evacuation route.

In a larger view, smart materials can convert different types of energy or react to different stimuli by changing their properties and scientists often include luminescent pigments and derived products in the category of smart materials. Therefore, we consider glow-in-the-dark pigments represent the intelligent and modern solution to by-pass the electric energy dependability of the safety indicators and to contribute to the public safety, in the form of special markings.

The scope of the research project consists of obtaining smart phosphorescent pigments via an energy-efficient method and test them in making persistent glow-in-the-dark safety markings.

To achieve this goal, the project involves active research and development of efficient SrAl₂O₄: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphorescent pigments and adequate organic matrixes to incorporate the obtained pigments (TRL3). The key-component is represented by the phosphorescent pigments, which will be extensively analyzed in the laboratory and improved to yield optimum properties. Different recipes, additions, synthesis conditions and thermal treatments will be tested to obtain long lasting emission in the dark.

In a second phase, both components (pigment and organic matrix) will be integrated in the form of a glow-in-the-dark coating and tested for compatibility (TRL4). A series of laboratory small-scale tests will be performed, to reproduce the real-life situations and verify the system functionality. Coatings with various pigment contents will be applied on different substrates using multiple thickness applicators. Light emission in the dark of the pigment-matrix systems will be tested under UV and Visible irradiation.

Project team

Radu LAZĂU - Principal investigator (CV)
Cornelia PĂCURARIU - experienced researcher (CV)
Robert IANOȘ - experienced researcher (CV)
Aylin CĂPRARU – technician (CV)

To meet our project objectives, a research team of four members was formed, including the principal investigator, two experienced researchers and a technician. The scientific background (research projects, patents, ISI papers, citations, and overall scientific activity) of the researchers was the key element when choosing the team members. The technician has very good skills in laboratory work. In addition, all the team members have previously worked together in various other research projects and completed each other very well, which is expected to enhance the collaboration within the current project.
 

Project workplan

2020

2021

2022

Results and dissemination

 2020

• 4 preparation recipes
• 10 synthesis protocols
• Set of 21 samples
• 5 sets of investigation results
• Project website
• Aquirements, total value/2020: 37.366,70 RON
   

2021

• Acquirements

Chemical reagents and laboratory materials – total value/2021 36.578,82 lei

• Paper publication/ presentation

1. Radu Lazău, Robert Ianoș*,Cornelia Păcurariu, Aylin Căpraru, Comparative study on SrAl₂O₄ formation using different approaches, Ceramics International 48 (2022) 13271–13276. (IF=5,532 – Q1)
2. Paper presented within 21st International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2021, Albena/ Bulgaria: ”A Comparative Study Regarding The Formation Of Strontium Aluminate”, authors Robert Ianoș*, Radu Lazău, Cornelia Păcurariu, Aylin Căpraru.

• Other

1. 13 preparation recipes for phosphorescent pigments
2. 8 pigment preparation and organic matrices testing protocols
3. 5 sets of pigment batches and 3 sets of organic matrices applied onto different supports
4. 11 sets of investigation results

2022

• Acquirements

Chemical reagents and laboratory materials – total value/2021 10.039,02 lei

• Paper publication/ presentation

1. Radu Lazău , Robert Ianos,, Cornelia Păcurariu, Diana Aylin Căpraru, Andrei Racu, Vlad Cornea, Combustion Synthesis of SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ Phosphorescent Pigments for Glow-in-the-Dark Safety Markings, Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 687. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13040687
2. Paper presented within 21st International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2022, Albena/ Bulgaria: ” Near-infrared reflective coatings based on hybonite blue pigments”, authors Robert Ianoș*, Radu Lazău, Cornelia Păcurariu, Rus Cristiana Iulia, Moldovan Ionela.

• Other

1. 9 preparation recipes of pigment-organic matrix dispersed systems
2. 3 working protocols
3. 6 sets of investigation results
4. 30 specimens of pigment-organic matrix systems (coatings) applied onto different supports
5. OSIM Patent Request No. 18971 / 25.07.2022: ”Pigmenți fosforescenți pe bază de SrAl₂O₄ dopat cu Eu²⁺ și Dy³⁺ și procedeu de obținere”, authors Radu Lazău, Robert Ianoș, Cornelia Păcurariu, Aylin Căpraru, Alina Perdivară, Vlad Cornea.
6. Diploma paper - SINTEZA, CARACTERIZAREA ȘI TESTAREA UNOR PIGMENȚI FOSFORESCENȚI PE BAZĂ DE SrAl₂O₄ DOPAT CU Eu ȘI Dy (Student: Cornea Vlad Mihai)
7. Course chapter - Pigmenți cu proprietăți luminescente/ Luminescent pigments, within the course Technology of inorganic pigments.

Fig. 1	Fig. 2a	Fig. 2b	Fig. 3

Contact:

Politehnica University of Timisoara
Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering
P-ta Victoriei No.2, Timisoara 300006,
Tel. 0040-256-404168
Fax 0040-256-403060

radu.lazau@upt.ro