Preparation and luminescence properties of the PMMA/SiO2/EuL3·2H2O hybrids by a sol–gel method

EuL3·2H2O (L=pyridine carboxylic acid) was successfully incorporated into PMMA/SiO2 matrix by a sol–gel method. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed that the presence of SiO2 improved the dispersion of EuL3·2H2O. Photoluminescence spectra (PL) showed that the hybrids exhibited the characteristic emission bands of Eu3+ and concentration quenching was significantly reduced by the introduction of SiO2. The refractive index of the hybrids was adjustable via changing the ratio of SiO2 and EuL3·2H2O.