Preparation and luminescence properties of terbium-Sal complex in-situ synthesized in silica matrix by a two-step sol-gel process

In-situ synthesis of terbium complex with salicylic acid (Sal) in silica ma trix was made by a two-step sol-gel process. The terbium complex with salic ylic acid was formed in sol-gel derived silica gel, and confirmed by the lu minescence excitation spectra and infrared(IR) spectra. As compared to the pure terbium complex powder, the silica gel containing terbium complex exhi bits its characteristic emission and presents a longer fluorescence lifetim e than that for the pure complex. The luminescence properties of the comple x containing;silica gel were investigated and compared with that of both te rbium doped the silica gel and thp pure complex powder. The reasons leading to the above results were also discussed.