OH-dependence of ultraviolet emission in porous silica

Abstract Photoluminescence and Raman measurements have been performed on sol–gel synthesized porous silica monoliths. Porous silica and polyethilenglycole/silica hybrids thermally treated at different temperatures have been analyzed. By exciting at 5.6 eV a structured photoluminescence emission centered at 3.7 eV is found in the whole set of samples. Hydration treatment of the pore surfaces increases the H-bonding interaction between silanols, inhibits the isolated silanols vibrations and changes the photoluminescence spectrum increasing the emission peaked at 3.7 eV.