Luminescent siliceous materials based on sodium silicate, organic polymers and silicon analogs

A new composite materials of various particle morphology were obtained by silicic acid condensation in the presence of oligomeric polyamine, poly (vinyl amine) or co(1-vinylimidazole - acrylic acid). These organic compounds are the models of biopolymers which participate in synthesis of siliceous structures in living organisms. Hydroxides of silicon analogs (Ge, Ti, Zr and Sn) were also applied as additives in the composite synthesis. The obtained materials show greatly more intensive luminescence comparing with pure silica without essential changes in luminescence spectra and lifetimes. We suppose the increase in emission intensity under the action of organic and inorganic additives is connected with increase of concentration of the luminescence-active defects which present in pure silica. Our results show possibility to obtain bright luminescent siliceous materials with controllable nano- and micro-level morphology by the action of polymeric amines and silicon analogs. [Display omitted] •New composites were obtained from silicic acid, organic polymers and silicon analogs.•The composites show considerably intensive luminescence comparing with pure silica.•The luminescence spectra and lifetimes are similar to pure silica.•The additives allows to control morphology of the highly luminescence particles.