Luminescent sol–gel thin films based on europium-substituted heteropolytungstates

Polyester thin films containing europium-substituted heteropolytungstate were obtained on quartz plate by the sol–gel method. The films exhibited the characteristic emission bands of the europium ion. The red to orange intensity ratio (R:O) of Eu3+ in the films increased as compared to the corresponding heteropolytungstate solids. The fluorescence lifetime of europium is shorter in the thin film than in the heteropolytungstate solid. The results indicated that the formation of europium-substituted heteropolytungstate/polyester thin film has great effect on the luminescence of europium-substituted heteropolytungstate.