Investigation on the effect of Tb(dbm)3phen on the luminescent properties of Eu(dbm)3phen-containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Eu(dbm)3phen and Tb(dbm)3phen complexes (tris(dibenzoylmethane) mono(1,10-phenantroline) Ln(III)) were impregnated in ordered mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with an average size of 50–70 nm and a pore diameter centred at 2.8 nm, with the aim of increasing the luminescence by avoiding concentration quenching and having mainly in mind the application as down-shifter for multi-crystalline solar cells. The morphological, structural, textural and luminescent properties of the synthesized samples were characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. It is demonstrated that inclusion in the MSNs allows one to use much higher loadings (23 wt%) of the Eu-complex than in other matrices, and that co-doping with Tb(dbm)3phen improves luminescence for samples with Eu(dbm)3phen content lower than about 10 wt%. Results are interpreted by using a simple sphere of action model adapted to the case of a pore-limited system.