Spectroscopic study of transparent self-standing films of (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethosysilane and (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylenediamine doped with europium complexes

Abstract By using (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethosysilane (GPTMS) and (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylenediamine (TSPED) as precursors, transparent self-standing films doped with the luminescent complexes Eu(hfc)3 · bipy and Eu(hfc)3 · terpy were prepared. The doped films were so studied from a spectroscopic point of view. It is verified that the film composition exerts effects on both, the intensity and lifetime of the emission process. For the GPTMS and TSPED films the measured lifetimes gave the values 250 and 183 μs respectively, for the complex Eu(hfc)3 · terpy. The TSPED matrix provides emissions with higher intensities, but lower lifetimes. For the GPTMS films an opposite behavior is observed. Comparing the emission spectra for GPTMS films doped with the complexes Eu(hfc)3bipy and Eu(hfc)3terpy, it is verified that not only the chemical composition of GPTMS or the type of ligand involved in the complex, but also the symmetry of the complex used as dopant, will be of prominent importance to the spectroscopic properties of the obtained doped films.