Sol–gel synthesis, spectral properties and stability of silica films doped by fluorescent dyes

Abstract

Silicon dioxide thin films with organic fluorescent dyes with different amount of matrix layers were prepared by sol–gel spin coating and dripping technique, synthetic and subsequent treatment parameters were proposed for obtaining materials with high homogeneity and dye stability. The structural, morphological and optical properties of obtained materials have been studied by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Immobilisation of the dye increases the degree of film amorphousness. Immobilisation greatly affects the spectral properties of coumarin 6 and BODIPY due to the dye protonation by acid catalyst, this effect is reversible in case of coumarin 6. Rhodamine 6G spectral characteristics are not influenced by immobilisation. In the hybrid materials monomeric form of the dyes retained at higher concentration compared with solutions. Dye immobilisation was found to increase dyes photostability.

Keywords:

• Sol–gel
• Hybrid material
• Coumarin 6
• Bodipy
• Rhodamine 6G
• Thin film
• XRD

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the grant of the President of the Russian Federation for young scientists and graduate students engaged in advanced research and development in priority directions of modernization of the Russian economy (2013–2015) [Grant No. SP-1742.2013.1] and the grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research [No 15-33-20002].