Luminescence and thermal stability of sodium tris(pyridine dicarboxylate) terbate(III) complex incorporated in silica matrix by sol-gel method

A terbium(III) complex, Na3Tb(DPA)3·9H2O, where H2DPA is 2,6-dicarboxy pyridine acid, has been synthesized and incorporated into silica gel by sol-gel method to obtain a composite material, SiO2:Na3Tb(DPA)3. Photoluminescent properties of SiO2:Na3Tb(DPA)3 composite were studied after heat treatments between room temperature and 600°C. The strong green emission of the composite material was intensified by heat-treatment under appropriate conditions. The effects of the dopant concentration and heat-treatment on the luminescence for the composite material have been examined. The results indicate that SiO2:Na3Tb(DPA)3 composite material possesses high thermal stability with intense green fluorescence, and may be applied as a potential luminescent material.