Highly fluorescent xerogels with entrapped carbon dots for organic scintillators

• Published in: Thin solid films 2014-02, Vol.553, p.188-192
• Main Authors: Quaranta, A., Carturan, S., Campagnaro, A., Dalla Palma, M., Giarola, M., Daldosso, N., Maggioni, G., Mariotto, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon quantum dots; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy transfer; Exact sciences and technology; FT-IR; Functionalization; Luminescence; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Other luminescence and radiative recombination; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Quantum dots; Raman; Silica gel; Xerogel
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2013.10.107

Organically modified silicate thin film and bulk samples were prepared using [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane (AEAP-TMOS) as precursor with the addition of different amounts of AEAP-TMOS functionalized C-dots, prepared by reaction of AEAP-TMOS and citric acid at high temperature. The synthesis of surface functionalized C-dots was followed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the C-dots optical properties were characterized by optical absorption and UV–vis fluorescence. Thin xerogel films and bulk samples were studied by FTIR, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. Intense blue-green emission was observed by UV excitation of functionalized C-dots. Carbon quantum dot (CQD) luminescence was preserved also in the xerogel matrices, and the energy transfer from the matrix to CQDs, which is a key characteristic for scintillation detectors, was investigated in the two systems. •Functionalized carbon dots were synthesized.•Carbon dots were dispersed in hybrid xerogel bulk and thin film.•Carbon dots exhibit a strong tunable blue luminescence.•Xerogels were characterized by FT-IR, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies.•Energy transfer processes were evidenced between C-dots and xerogel matrix.