Eu³⁺@Organo-Si(HIPE) Macro-Mesocellular Hybrid Foams Generation: Syntheses, Characterizations, and Photonic Properties

The elaboration of organosilica-based hybrid monoliths exhibiting a hierarchically structured bimodal porous structure with chelating functionality have been synthesized under interplay between high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) and lyotropic mesophases. For the first time grafted Eu 3+ @ g β-diketone-Si(HIPE) and Eu 3+ @ g malonamide-Si(HIPE) hybrid foams have been synthesized while a related Eu 3+ @β-diketone-Si(HIPE) material has been obtained under a one-step co-condensation process. The loading of monoliths with lanthanides was performed by impregnation of an europium(III) salt in solution. The resulting materials have been thoroughly characterized via a large set of techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), mercury porosimetry, nitrogen sorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and 29 Si and 13 C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR). This new series of luminescent Eu 3+ containing Organo-Si(HIPE) materials has a large potential of promising applications in catalysis, optics, sensors, chromatographic supports, and so forth. For the first time, optical properties of these versatile materials with macro- and microporosity have been addressed thorough their absorption and emission spectra along with their relaxation luminescence properties.