Photoluminescence of coumarin 540 dye confined in mesoporous silica

Coumarin 540 dye was introduced into ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41) by thermal diffusion in vacuum. Photoluminescence responses around 535 nm and 483 nm were detected from the mesoporous silica loaded with coumarin 540, arising from the confined dye and mesoporous silica, respectively. The photoluminescence lifetimes were found to be affected by the bonding between coumarin 540 molecules and the internal surface of the MCM-41.