Photoluminescence Characteristics of the Light-Emitting Chromophores Obtained from Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Silica Spheres

Light-emitting chromophores have been separated from silica spheres modified the surface with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate (TMSPM). The photoluminescence characteristics of the chromophores were investigated with various excitation wavelengths. The TMSPM was attached to the surface of silica spheres at $75^{\circ}C$. Large number of round shaped particles of the TMSPM was on the surface of silica spheres after 3 h reaction. The TMPSM was completely covered on the surface of the spheres after 6 h reaction. The surface modified silica spheres were soaked into acetone and stored for 20 days at ambient condition. The solution color slowly changed from light yellow to deep yellow with the increase of the storing time. The FTIR absorption peaks at 3348, 2869, 2927, 1715, 1453/1377, 1296, and $1120cm^{-1}$ represent C-OH, $R-CH_3$, $R_2-CH_2$, -C=O, C-H, C=C-H, and Si-O-Si absorption, respectively. The FTIR absorption peak at $1715cm^{-1}$ representing the ester -C=O stretching vibration for silica spheres stored for 20 days was increased compared with the spheres without aging. The UV-visible absorption peaks were at 4.51 eV (275 nm) and 3.91 eV (317 nm). There were two luminescence peaks at 2.51 eV (495 nm) and 2.25 eV (550 nm). The emission at 2.51 eV was dominant peak when the excitation energy was higher than 2.58 eV, and emission at 2.25 eV became dominant peak when the excitation energy was lower than 2.58 eV.