White-light photoluminescence and photoactivation in cadmium sulfide embedded in mesoporous silicon dioxide templates studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 407; pp. 47 - 59
• Main Authors: Pellicer, E., Rossinyol, E., Rosado, M., Guerrero, M., Domingo-Roca, R., Suriñach, S., Castell, O., Baró, M.D., Roldán, M., Sort, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cadmium; Cadmium sulfides; CdS; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Confocal laser scanning microscopy; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Illumination; Lighting; Mesoporous silica; Nanocasting; nanocomposites; nanocrystals; Nanostructure; Photoactivation; Photoluminescence; Porous materials; SBA-15; SBA-16; silica; Silicon dioxide; Three dimensional; white light; White-light photoluminescence; White-light photoluminescence; SBA-16; CdS; Photoactivation; Mesoporous silica; Nanocasting; SBA-15; Confocal laser scanning microscopy; Binary compound; Transition element compounds; Photoluminescence; Confocal microscopy; Cadmium sulfide; Porous material; Silica; Mesoporosity; Template; Laser; Silicon
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.06.022

[Display omitted] •Cadmium sulfide (CdS) embedded into SBA-15 and SBA-16 mesoporous silica templates.•Cadmium thioglycolate precursor as a source of mesoporous CdS.•Broad photoluminescence (PL) over the entire visible range and enhanced PL intensity.•SiO2@CdS composites undergo photoactivation under continuous UV illumination. SBA-15 and SBA-16 silica templates have been infiltrated with CdS by means of nanocasting using a hybrid precursor. The morphology and structure of both the SiO2@CdS nanocomposites and the silica-free CdS replicas have been characterized. The three-dimensional nanocrystalline CdS networks embedded in SBA-15 and SBA-16 silica templates exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) spectra over the entire visible range, together with enhanced PL intensity compared to silica-free CdS replicas. These effects result from the role silica plays in passivating the surface of the CdS mesostructures. Furthermore, photoactivation is eventually observed during continuous illumination because of both structural and chemical surface modifications. Owing to this combination of properties, these materials could be appealing for solid-state lighting, where ultra-bright near-white PL emission is indispensable.