Photoluminescence of erbium oxide nanocrystals/TiO₂/ γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO) composite sol-gel thin films derived at low temperature

Erbium (III) oxide nanocrystals prepared using the inverse microemulsion technique were dispersed in sol-gel TiO₂/γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO) composite thin films at low temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy observation show that the erbium (III) oxide nanoparticles have a nanocrystalline structure and their size is in the range from 5 to 30 nm. A relatively strong room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) was observed at 1.531 μm with a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 22 nm. The shape, peak position, and FWHM of the PL curve from the composite thin films are quite comparable to those prepared by other methods. The PL peak of the composite thin film reached a maximum intensity after a heat treatment at 300°C. Fourier transform infrared results show that water and hydroxyl groups are present in the films and are responsible for the luminescence peak intensity reduction of the films heated at higher temperature.