Effect of europium loading on the photoluminescence property of europium incorporated 3D-Mesoporous silica

Abstract

Here, for the first time, europium was incorporated into the open-structure three-dimensional mesoporous siliceous material. Samples with different loadings of europium were synthesized through one-step hydrothermal treatment based on sol-gel technique. The prepared samples were characterized by different characterization techniques and the results showed the formation of isolated trivalent europium ions in silica matric at low loading samples. However, at high loading samples, nanoparticles of europium III oxide, with an average size of 5–10 nm size, were detected inside the pores of mesoporous silica matrix. The photoluminescence property of the prepared samples was investigated at two different excitation wavelengths of 393 nm and 466 nm. The maximum photoluminescence emission intensity peaks was observed at approximately 614 nm at the two-excitation wavelength. The intensity of emission peak for the 614 nm was also found to be enhanced with increasing the loading of europium ions, this signify that europium acts as a good luminescent activator for red phosphor.