Mesoporous hybrids containing Eu complexes covalently bonded to SBA-15 functionalized: Assembly, characterization and photoluminescence

A novel series of luminescent mesoporous organic-inorganic hybrid materials has been prepared by linking Eu³⁺ complexes to the functionalized ordered mesoporous SBA-15 which was synthesis by a co-condensation process of 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanepione (DBM) modified by the coupling agent 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propyl isocyanate (TEPIC), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), Pluronic P123 surfactant as a template. It was demonstrated that the efficient intramolecular energy transfer in the mesoporous material Eu(DBMSi-SBA-15)₃phen mainly occurred between the modified DBM (named as DBM-Si) and the central Eu³⁺ ion. So the Eu(DBMSi-SBA-15)₃phen showed characteristic emission of Eu³⁺ ion under UV irradiation with higher luminescence quantum efficiency. Moreover, the mesoporous hybrid materials exhibited excellent thermal stability as the lanthanide complex was covalently bonded to the mesoporous matrix.