Stable blue luminescence from mesoporous silica films

This study investigates how blue (similar to 460 nm) photoluminescence (PL) from mesoporous silica (MS) films depends on the nanostructure and chemistry of the pores. Reducing pore-size and pore-wall can increase the total area of the pore-surfaces, and therefore the number of radiative recombination centers, within the MS matrix, enhancing PL efficiency. Moreover, the number of silianol groups on pore-surfaces, which absorb moisture and degrade the PL of the MS films, is greatly reduced by silylating MS with hydrophobicity, yielding long-term stable luminescence. The quantum-efficiency of PL and the electroluminescence of the MS films are measured about 5.0 x 10(-4) and 1.0 x 10(-6), respectively. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.