Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of the Eu(III)-containing silica nanoparticles via a mechanochemical solid-state reaction between SiO2 and EuCl3·6H2O

Abstract

In this study, Eu3+-containing amorphous silica nanoparticles and Eu compounds were successfully synthesized via a mechanochemical solid-state reaction between silica nanoparticles and EuCl3·6H2O. This reaction was induced by a grinding process, and the states of Eu3+ in the silica/europium composites were investigated. The silica/europium composites exhibited orange–red color luminescence owing to the 5D0–7F0, 5D0–7F1, and 5D0–7F2 transitions, which indicated the presence of Eu3+ in the silica framework and the newly formed Eu compounds such as EuOCl and Eu(OH)2Cl. The mechanochemical reaction because of the grinding process effectively induced an interaction between the silica surface and europium chloride; subsequently, Eu(OH)2Cl was formed in the silica/europium composites. Additionally, the Eu(OH)2Cl in the silica/europium composite exhibited a higher thermal stability than that of simple Eu(OH)2Cl, indicating that the mechanochemical reaction mediated the formation of Eu(OH)2Cl and new chemical bonding between the newly formed Eu(OH)2Cl and the silica surface, providing improved thermal stability to Eu(OH)2Cl. Thus, we successfully prepared silica nanoparticles containing not only Eu(III) in the silica framework but also Eu compounds that exhibit unique chemical bonding during a mechanochemical reaction.