Enhanced photoluminescence of organic dyes embedded in sol-gel organosilane thin films

We investigated photoluminescence properties of Dyomics dyes DY650 and DY831 when incorporated into solid thin films fabricated using two distinct sol–gel precursors, namely, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Surprisingly, a significant enhancement in both photoluminescence lifetime and quantum yield was observed in the films derived from GPTMS, contrasting conventional behavior documented in literature for dyes dispersed within solid matrices. This phenomenon is attributed to the unique molecular environment surrounding the dyes in the GPTMS matrix, which was inferred to suppress nonradiative decay channels for the photoexcited dyes. Our findings provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay between dye molecules and their host matrices, shedding light on the potential applications of GPTMS-based systems in enhancing photoluminescence properties for various technological advancements. •Photoluminescence decay time increase was observed for DY650 and DY831 dyes in GPTMS.•GPTMS mitigates steric hindrance effects reducing dye-matrix interaction.•Robust platform to analyse the intricate interplay between sol–gel precursors.