The formation of Eu(III) nanoparticles in borosilicate sol-gels and the glass formation heat treatment effect on those particles were studied using luminescence techniques. The presence of the particles was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images followed by analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). These experiments showed the presence of particles with a large quantity of europium and chlorine and only small amounts of oxygen with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 nm. Heat treatment at 400, 600, and 800 degrees C lead to glass samples in which those particles were no longer observed. Steady-state and time-resolved luminescence techniques allowed a detailed study of Eu(III) photophysics in sot-gel and glass samples. In sol-gel matrices, the (5)D(0) -> (7)F(0) transition is very weak, hinting at Eu(III) species experiencing a rather symmetric crystal field. The (5)D(0) -> (7)F(2) transition intensity is not very strong, which according to a Judd-Ofelt analysis indicates low interaction with the anions present in the sol-gel matrices. This picture reverses after heat treatment, indicating a replacement of chloride anions with oxygen as preferential ligands of Eu(III). Time-resolved luminescence shows in a more detailed way these aspects. Sol-gel samples display nonexponential kinetics, which are attributed to Eu(III) species present in the nanoparticles surface (bound to oxygen) and Eu(III) in the core of the nanoparticles (bound to chloride). Glass samples display single-exponential luminescence decays, in which the decay constant approaches the values calculated for the radiative rate constant with Judd-Ofelt analysis. It is concluded that, in sol-gel, mechanisms like electron-phonon coupling suppress the Eu(III) luminescence, which disappear as soon as the nanoparticles are disrupted after heat treatment.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 671PPTimes Cited: 2
Cited Reference Count: 41
Ventura, Marcia G. Laia, Cesar A. T. Jorge Parola, A.
Laia, Cesar/C-8651-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Ventura, Marcia/C-6702-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013
Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076;
FCT-MCTES (Portugal) [PTDC/EAT/67354/2006, SFRH/BPD/40008/2007]
FCT-MCTES (Portugal) is acknowledged for financial support through project PTDC/EAT/67354/2006 and a postdoc grant SFRH/BPD/40008/2007 (M.V.). Ms. Catarina Miguel is acknowledged for assistance in FTIR measurements.
Amer chemical soc
Washington