Concentration quenching and photostability in Eu(dbm)3phen embedded in mesoporous silica nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2014-02, Vol.146, p.178-185
• Main Authors: Moretti, Elisa, Talon, Aldo, Storaro, Loretta, Le Donne, Alessia, Binetti, Simona, Benedetti, Alvise, Polizzi, Stefano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cold working, work hardening; annealing, quenching, tempering, recovery, and recrystallization; textures; Composite materials; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Illumination; Luminescence; Materials science; Nanoparticles; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructures; Natural energy; Optical materials; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Photoluminescence; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Quenching; Silica nanoparticles; Silicon dioxide; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Spectroscopy; Sunlight; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2013.09.059

Ordered mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were impregnated with different loadings of the luminescent complex tris(dibenzoylmethane) mono(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) (Eu(dbm)3phen), with the aim of increasing the luminescence by avoiding concentration quenching and having mainly in mind the application as spectral converter for multi-crystalline silicon solar cells. The morphological, structural and luminescence properties of the impregnated silica nanoparticles were characterized by N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence excitation and emission measurements. Photostability was tested under 1 sun (1000W/m2) illumination for 24h and the related effects were inspected by UV–visible and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Impregnation of the complex into 50–70nm MSNs with pore size tailored around 2.9nm depressed concentration quenching and allowed the use of complex loadings as high as 23wt%. Sunlight irradiation caused a marked increase in the luminescence intensity. •Mesoporous silica nanoparticles tailored to the size of Eu3+(dbm)3phen molecules.•Concentration quenching avoided up to 23wt% of Eu3+(dbm)3phen/silica.•Sun irradiation increased luminescence intensity by two order of magnitudes.