Effect of PMMA impregnation on the fluorescence quantum yield of sol–gel glasses doped with quinine sulfate

Abstract The fluorescence quantum yield of quinine sulfate in sol–gel and PMMA impregnated glasses is measured. The observed quantum yield improvement in the sol–gel matrix, compared to ethanol, is interpreted as a reduction of non-radiative relaxation channels by isolation of the molecules by the cage of the glass. PMMA impregnated sol–gel glasses show an extra improvement of the fluorescence yield, which is interpreted as a reduction of the free space and the rigid fixation of the molecules to the matrix.