Luminescent character of mesoporous silica with Er2O3 composite materials

Erbium oxide has been successfully incorporated into SBA-15 and different types MCM-41 mesoporous materials via thermal diffusion methods. A series of characterizations were used to characterize the prepared materials. In the prepared host–guest materials, the frameworks of the host materials were kept intact, and the guest erbium oxide mainly located inside the pores of the host materials. The host–guest composite materials showed the luminescent properties, and the luminescent intensities were excellent. Luminescence studies also revealed that the different particle size of the host materials have biggish influence to the luminescence characters. Moreover, the luminescence intensity and luminescence lifetime could be increased by the modification of the mesoporous materials surface. The better luminescent performances made these prepared materials show potential applications in optical amplification, laser systems, or medical diagnostics.

Graphical abstractErbium oxide was successfully incorporated into SBA-15 and different types MCM-41 mesoporous materials via thermal diffusion methods. The prepared composite materials showed the properties of luminescence. The different particle size of the materials had biggish influence to the luminescence properties. Moreover, the luminescence properties could be increased by the modification of the outside surface of mesoporous materials.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Erbium oxide was successfully incorporated into SBA-15 and different types MCM-41 mesoporous materials. ► The prepared composite materials showed the properties of luminescence. ► The different particle size of the materials had biggish influence to the luminescence properties. ► The luminescence properties could be increased by the modification of the outside surface of mesoporous materials.