Preparation and characterization of luminescent thin films doped with rare earth (Tb 3+, Eu 3+) complexes derived from a sol–gel process

• Published in: Materials letters 2000, Vol.45 (3), p.213-216
• Main Authors: Meng, Qingguo, Zhang, Hongjie, Wang, Shubin, Fu, Lianshe, Zheng, Youxuan, Yang, Kuiyue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Liquid phase epitaxy; deposition from liquid phases (melts, solutions, and surface layers on liquids); Luminescent thin films; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Other solid inorganic materials; Photoluminescence; Physics; Sol–gel
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-577X(00)00107-5

Sol–gel derived luminescent thin films doped with rare earth (RE) complexes were prepared using an in-situ synthesis method with a two-step hydrolysis process and the luminescence spectra were measured. Fluorescence lifetime and thermal stability were investigated. The results show that a broad excitation band indicates the formation of RE complexes in the solid thin films. RE ions, which are restrained in a silica matrix, present longer lifetime and higher thermal stability than that in DMF/PVB films containing the corresponding pure complexes.