Enhancement of Sm3+ Luminescence in Sol-Gel Silica Matrix: Effect of Ligands Phenyl Phosphinic Acid and Trioctylphosphine Oxide

• Published in: Journal of fluorescence 2024-12
• Main Authors: Rajkonwar, Navaneeta, Gogoi, Purabi, Dutta, Pankaj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1053-0509; 1573-4994; 1573-4994
• DOI: 10.1007/s10895-024-04076-y

Sol-gel silica matrices singly doped with Sm3+ and co-doped with ligands phenyl phosphinic acid (PPIA) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) were fabricated and studied for their structural and spectroscopic behaviour. Structural studies were done by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) absorption analysis whereas spectroscopic behaviour was studied by ultraviolet - visible (UV-Vis) absorption, photoluminescence (PL) excitation, emission and time-correlated decay analyses. XRD studies exhibit the amorphous nature of the samples and FTIR studies corroborate the presence of the ligands in the silica matrix. UV-Vis absorption and PL studies show significant enhancement in the radiative parameters in ligand co-doped samples compared to singly doped Sm3+ sample. Judd Ofelt parameters estimated from the absorption spectra possess higher values compared to popular hosts; revealing higher asymmetry and covalency around the active Sm3+ ions. An enhancement in PL intensity by 50.38 times and yield by 52.57 times with the co-doping of the ligands PPIA and TOPO is reported. These enhancement in the radiative output in ligand co-doped samples is attributed to the modification of the silica network with the incorporation of the ligands, energy transfer from ligands to nearby Sm3+ ions as well as due to the shielding of Sm3+ ions from the OH quenchers in the silica matrix. The improved PL behaviour especially corresponding to 4G5∕2→6H9∕2 transitions occurring at 643 nm suggests the potential of PPIA and TOPO co-doped Sm3+ silica matrix for diverge optical applications.Sol-gel silica matrices singly doped with Sm3+ and co-doped with ligands phenyl phosphinic acid (PPIA) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) were fabricated and studied for their structural and spectroscopic behaviour. Structural studies were done by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) absorption analysis whereas spectroscopic behaviour was studied by ultraviolet - visible (UV-Vis) absorption, photoluminescence (PL) excitation, emission and time-correlated decay analyses. XRD studies exhibit the amorphous nature of the samples and FTIR studies corroborate the presence of the ligands in the silica matrix. UV-Vis absorption and PL studies show significant enhancement in the radiative parameters in ligand co-doped samples compared to singly doped Sm3+ sample. Judd Ofelt parameters estimated from the absorption spectra possess higher values compared to popular host