Photoluminescence of mesoporous silica films impregnated with an erbium complex

Transparent mesoporous silica films were prepared by sol-gel spin coating on silicon wafers at room temperature. An erbium complex, erbium tris 8-hydroxyquinoline (ErQ), was homogeneously impregnated into the pores of the mesoporous silica films, and its concentration was easily controlled by using a solution immersing technique. The ErQ-impregnated mesoporous silica films show a room-temperature photoluminescence at 1.5 mum.