SYNTHESIS OF PHOTOLUMINESCENT CORE-SHELL SILICA PARTICLES BY SACRIFICIAL POLYMER SHELL METHOD

A novel approach has been developed for the synthesis of SiO2@Y2O3:Eu3+ particles with core-shell structure. In this method the polymer shell is obtained by copolymerization of methacryl oxyethyl isocyanate onto silica particles which are chemically modified by 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate. The grafted polymer acts as template to prepare the luminescent shell on silica particles. Then, the obtained silica-polymer core-shell particles are dispersed in a solution of Yttrium and Europium nitrates to allow a physical adsorption of the ions by the polymer shell. The sacrificial polymer shell will be removed by thermal treatment to obtain photoluminescent SiO2@Y2O3:Eu3+ core-shell particles. Results reveal that the intensity of photoluminescence of these core-shell particles is much higher than intensity of particles prepared without sacrificial polymer shell.