[Photoluminescence from bis-t-butylbenzoxazolylthiophene doped silica films].

ABSTRACT

Thin nano-porous silica films doped with high concentrations of fluorescent material, 2, 5-bis (5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)-thiophene (BBOT) were prepared via a sol-gel process. Uniform and bright blue fluorescence was observed. Light emission properties of these organic molecule doped inorganic silica films, i.e., hybrid films, were measured using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, steady and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy as well as optical microscopy. Features of these materials were revealed in this investigation Firstly, photoluminescence intensity from BBOT doped silica films increased linearly as the concentrations of BBOT increased if the dopant concentration was relatively low and below 6 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1); Secondly, no molecular aggregation or phase separation was observed using optical microscopy when the BBOT concentration was below 6 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) in BBOT doped silica films. Thirdly, the fluorescence lifetimes of BBOT in the doped silica films were longer than that in a dilute dioxane solution (1.957 ns), which was contradicted to our general understanding that the fluorescence lifetime may be reduced in a condensed matter due to molecular interactions or quenching. It was further found that the fluorescence lifetime also varied with the gelation conditions. Taking a BBOT concentration of 6 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) for an example, the lifetime of BBOT in doped silica films was about 2.45 ns for a specimen polymerized at 50 degrees C; while the lifetime was increased to 3.04 ns for a specimen polymerized at 90 degrees C. This work demonstrates no concentration quenching when the BBOT dopant concentrations increased to as high as 6 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) in the silica matrix. In comparison with the changes in time-resolved photoluminescence of BBOT in dioxane solution and that of the BBOT doped nano-porous silica in relation to their concentration dependence and the gelation conditions, it was found that concentration quenching can be effectively suppressed by the nano-porous silica matrix. A stable fluorescent organic-inorganic hybrid material is thus obtained.