Preparation and luminescence properties of Eu2+ in SiO2 xerogels

Abstract Al-doped and B, Al co-doped SiO2 xerogels with Eu2+ ions were prepared only by sol–gel reaction in air without reducing heat-treatment or post-doping. The luminescence characteristics and mechanism of europium doping SiO2 xerogels were studied as a function of the concentration of Al, B, the europium concentration and the host composition. The emission spectra of the Al-doped and B, Al co-doped samples all show an efficient emission broad band in the blue violet range. The blue emission of the Al-doped sample was centered at 437 nm, whereas the B, Al co-doped xerogel emission maximum shifted to 423 nm and the intensity became weaker. Concentration quenching effect occurred in both the Al-doped and B, Al co-doped samples, which probably is the result of the transfer of the excitation energy from Eu2+ ions to defects. The highest Eu2+ emission intensity was observed for samples with the Si(OC2H5)4:C2H5OH:H2O molar ratio of 1:2:4.