Rare earth metal ions are optically useful compounds with unique monochromatic luminescence. The fluorescence of rare earth ions, however, is often quenched through hydroxyl and cluster quenching. To overcome this limitation, chelated complexes of the rare earth ions can be incorporated into matrices and if the ligand is chosen so that it is also photoactive, it can enhance the fluorescence through the antenna effect. Our research looks specifically at the synthesis and incorporation of complexes of europium and terbium into silica sol-gel matrices using a post-annealing immersion method in which the rare earth chelates are infused into monolithic porous silica sol-gel glass and their luminescence studied through fluorescence spectroscopy.

Incorporation of rare earth chelates into a sol-gel matrix using post-annealing immersion

2019 Spring National Meeting

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