Photophysical properties of rare earth (Eu3+, Sm3+, Tb3+) complex covalently immobilized in hybrid Si-O-B xerogels.

The molecular linkage (phenSi) from functionalized 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline (PhenNH(2)) by 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propyl isocyanate (TESPIC) is to construct the rare earth (Sm(3+), Eu(3+), Tb(3+)) center covalently immobilized in the hybrid xerogels of Si-O-B through the cohydrolysis and copolycondensation process between different alkoxide precursors of them (tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tri-n-butylborate (TBB)). NMR, FTIR and ultraviolet absorption are measured to confirm the obtained materials. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the hybrid materials are amorphous. Scanning electronic microscopy images show the stripe microstructure without phase separation phenomenon in the obtained hybrid materials. The covalently bonded Si-O-B hybrid xerogel presents the similar photoluminescent behavior to the pure Si-O-Si hybrid xerogels, which indicates that Si-O-B hybrid xerogel is a suitable system for the luminescence of RE(3+). © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011