Enhancement of Sm(3+)emission by SnO(2)nanocrystals in the silica matrix

Silica xerogels containing Sm(3+)ions and SnO(2)nanocrystals were prepared in a sol–gel process. The image of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the SnO(2)nanocrystals are dispersed in the silica matrix. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the sample confirms the tetragonal phase of SnO(2). The xerogels containing SnO(2)nanocrystals and Sm(3+)ions display the characteristic emission of Sm(3+)ions ((4)G(5/2 )→ (6)H(J)(J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2)) at the excitation of 335 nm which energy corresponds to the energy gap of the SnO(2)nanocrystals, while no emission of Sm(3+)ions can be observed for the samples containing Sm(3+)ions. The enhancement of the Sm(3+)emission is probably due to the energy transfer from SnO(2)nanocrystals to Sm(3+)ions.