Photoluminescence Enhancement of SiO2‐Coated LaPO4:Eu3+ Inverse Opals by Surface Plasmon Resonance of Ag Nanoparticles

Abstract

The surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and SiO2 coating had been extensively employed to improve the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of nanomaterials. In the article, the LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opal photonic crystals were fabricated via combining a self‐assembly process with a sol–gel method. The SiO2 shells were formed on the skeleton surface of LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opals and the Ag NPs were added into the voids of LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opals with the SiO2 shells. The influence of the SiO2 shells and Ag NPs on the PL of the LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opals were investigated. About sevenfold luminescence enhancement of LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opals was obtained by the coordination action of surface plasmon absorption effects of Ag nanoparticle and silica‐coating effects. The luminescence enhancement mechanisms of LaPO4:Eu3+ inverse opals were discussed.