The luminescent properties, thermal stability of phthalic acid and energy transfer from phthalic acid to Tb3+ in sol—gel derived silica xerogels

In recent years, the energy transfer between different rare earth ions and the luminescent properties of rare earth ions have been studied extensively. However, the research of luminescent properties, thermal stability and structural variations of organic compounds, as well as their energy transfer to rare earth ions in silica xerogel, have not been reported. Organic—inorganic composites have even more efficient luminescence than pure rare earth ions. We describe the fabrication of silica xerogels doped with phthalic acid and Tb3+, their luminescent properties and thermal stability. The results show that, in silica xerogels, phthalic acid can exist steadily at 300 °C, and it can transfer the energy that it has absorbed to Tb3+.