Fluorescence enhancement from Eu3+ ions in CdSe nanocrystal containing silica matrix hosts

Semiconductor cadmium selenide particles together with europium ions were incorporated into the silica matrix using sol-gel method. Here, the effect of nanocrystals on the absorption and fluorescence features of europium ions is discussed., The fluorescence spectra reveal that the intensity of characteristic emission of europium increases considerably in the presence of Use particles. This phenomenon can be explained as due to the energy transfer resulting from electron-hole recombination in the CdSe to the rare earth ion. These zero-dimensional materials, along with the effect of matrix incorporating europium ions, are found to have increased the optical gain. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.