Optical response of Ce(III) and Eu(II) doped hybrid materials synthesised by Sol-Gel processing

This study deals with the preparation of two hybrid organic-inorganic matri ces via sol-gel, starting from alkylalkoxisilanes Si(CH3)(OCH2CH3)(3), (MTE OS)-SiH(CH3)(OCH2CH3)(2) (MDES), A system, and SiH(CH3)(OCH2CH3)(2) (MDES) SiH(OCH2CH3)(3) (TREOS), B system, together with zirconium n-propoxide. Ano ther type-A is carried out by adding acetylacetone, A-acac system. The matr ices are characterised by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR-MAS), and chemical analysis. Optical characteristics of the matrices have been studied. A-acac and B matrices are doped with an Eu(III) salt, an d A and B matrices are doped with a Ce(IV) salt. Absorption and emission st udies show the presence of Eu(II) and Ce(III). The transition metal alkoxid e that catalysed cleavage of the Si-H bonds was used to reduce in situ at r oom temperature, the rare earth cations. Depending on chemical strategy, th e resulting hybrid materials can be processed as transparent bulks or coati ngs which exhibit a good transparency in the UV-visible domain. Both the-un doped and the rare earth doped matrices exhibit a strong blue emission.