Rare earth based sol-gel materials: an intra- and inter-collegiate collaborative research project

Sol-gel glasses containing rare earth (RE) impurities form an exciting class of new optical materials with potential uses as phosphors and solid state laser media. The low temperature glass synthesis based on the liquid organic precursor tetramethoxysilane allows incorporation of higher RE concentrations than in traditional melt glasses without compromising the amorphous character of the material. The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of these materials have together formed the basis for a fruitful interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research collaboration. All materials used in this project are made by Hamilton College chemistry students; spectroscopy experiments are performed by students and faculty in the physics departments at Hamilton, Franklin and Marshall, and Davidson Colleges. In this talk results from two ongoing spectroscopic investigations will be presented, both connected to the long-term goal of improving the low fluorescence efficiency of these materials. The first is the chelation of the RE metal to create an enhanced fluorescence excitation path and to physically separate the RE from the sol-gel matrix. Chelating molecules absorb strongly in the uv, and subsequent energy transfer can produce intense visible emission from the RE. Results are presented for the chelating agent 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) bound to europium ions and incorporated into gels. Red emission from europium follows excitation into the PDC absorption band below 300 nm. The second investigation focuses on fluorescence quenching of blue emission from trivalent terbium. Two separate mechanisms-energy transfer from terbium to residual hydroxide ions and among terbium ions lead to reduced intensity of the blue emission lines relative to other longer wavelength signals.