Preparation and properties of europium-doped phosphosilicate glasses obtained by the sol–gel method

Abstract In this work, we report the synthesis of europium-doped phosphosilicate glasses from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), phenyltrietoxysilane (PTES) and ammonium phosphate (NH4H2PO4) prepared by the sol–gel process. The matrix was synthesized by modified Stober methodology. The alkoxide precursors PTES and TEOS were mixed with NH4H2PO4, in the presence of europium III chloride, using ethanol as solvent in basic catalysis. These materials were studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results obtained for the materials show the formation of conchoidal-fractures, which are characteristics of glass materials. The thermal analysis showed the thermal stability of materials up to 300 °C. Eu III has been used as structural probe due to its photophysical properties. The PL spectra displays the lines characteristics of the Eu (III) ion 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). Wide bands were observed, indicating non-homogeneous sites that are characteristic of amorphous systems.