Structure and luminescence properties of Eu 3+-doped cubic mesoporous silica thin films

Abstract

Eu 3+ ions-doped cubic mesoporous silica thin films with a thickness of about 205 nm were prepared on silicon and glass substrates using triblock copolymer as a structure-directing agent using sol-gel spin-coating and calcination processes. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis show that the mesoporous silica thin films have a highly ordered body-centered cubic mesoporous structure. High Eu 3+ ion loading and high temperature calcination do not destroy the ordered cubic mesoporous structure of the mesoporous silica thin films. Photoluminescence spectra show two characteristic emission peaks corresponding to the transitions of 5D 0- 7F 1 and 5D 0- 7F 2 of Eu 3+ ions located in low symmetry sites in mesoporous silica thin films. With the Eu/Si molar ratio increasing to 3.41%, the luminescence intensity of the Eu 3+ ions-doped mesoporous silica thin films increases linearly with increasing Eu 3+ concentration. © 2010 The Author(s).