Luminescence properties of the ternary rare earth complexes with beta-diketones and 1,10-phenanthroline incorporated in silica matrix by a sol-gel method

Ternary complexes of rare earth Eu(dbm)(3).phen and Tb(acac)(3).phen (dbm = dibenzoylmethanide, acac = acetylacetone and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were introduced into silica gel by the sol-gel method. The result indicated that the rare earth ions (EU3+ and Tb3+) showed fewer emission lines and slightly lower emission intensities in the silica gel than in the pure rare earth complexes. The lifetimes of rare earth ions in silica gel (Eu3+ and Tb3+) doped with Eu(dbm)(3).phen and Tb(acac)(3).phen were longer than those in purl Eu(dbm)(3).phen and Tb(acac)(3).phen. A very small amount of rare earth complexes doped in a silica gel matrix can retain excellent luminescence properties. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.