Europium hybrids/SiO2/semiconductor: Multi-component sol–gel composition, characterization and photoluminescence

Three kinds of semiconductor metal sulfide nanoparticles (CdS, ZnS, Ag2S) are synthesized and then are functionalized with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) to obtain organically modified MPTMS–CdS(ZnS, Ag2S) composite. Meanwhile, ternary europium complex systems are synthesized with trifluoroacetylacetone (TAA) functionalized linkage (TAASi) and terminal N-heterocyclic ligand (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, Bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl). Then through the co-hydrolysis and copolycondensation processes between TTASi unit of Phen(Bipy)-Eu-TAASi and MPTMS unit of MPTMS/CdS(ZnS, Ag2S), both of the semiconductor unit and rare earth complex system are sol–gel composed with covalently bonding Si–O to form the multi-component inorganic/organic hybrids Phen(Bipy)-Eu-TAASi–SiO2–MPTMS–CdS(ZnS, Ag2S). The luminescent properties of these hybrids are studied in detail, which shows the introduction of semiconductor unit is favorable for the luminescence of europium ions.