Abstract
Abstract Sm3+-doped silica gels have been prepared by a sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate, H2O, HCl and Sm(NO3)3 · 6H2O. The structural evolution and densification behaviour of the gels during thermal treatment have been monitored by physical property measurements, visible-NIR, IR and fluorescence spectroscopy. The gels show a continuous densification and strengthening of the silica network with increasing heat-treatment temperatures (60–100 °C). The fluorescence intensity ratio of the 4G 5 2 → 6H 9 2 to 4G 5 2 → 6H 5 2 transition has been used to study the change of Sm3+ environment during gel-glass conversion. Samarium passes through three different environments at different heat-treatment temperatures during gel to glass conversion.
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