The luminescent properties, thermal stability of phthalic acid and energy transfer from phthalic acid to Tb³⁺ in sol-gel derived silica xerogels

In recent years, the energy transfer between different rare earth ions the luminescent properties of rare earth ions have been studied extensively. However, the research of luminescent properties, thermal stability structural variations of organic compounds, as well as their energy transfer to rare earth ions in silica xerogel, have not been reported. Organic-inorganic composites have even more efficient luminescence than pure rare earth ions. We describe the fabrication of silica xerogels doped with phthalic acid Tb³⁺, their luminescent properties thermal stability. The results show that, in silica xerogels, phthalic acid can exist steadily at 300°C, it can transfer the energy that it has absorbed to Tb³⁺.