Color-Tunable Luminescence of Organoclay-Based Hybrid Materials Showing Potential Applications in White LED and Thermosensors

Hybrid composites with great potential for white light LED and temperature sensing obtained through a simple, low cost, and environmental benign way is highly desirable and remains a challengeable task. Herein we present luminescent hybrid composites both in the form of powder and transparent film by simply mixing organic sensitizer, aminoclay (AC), and lanthanide (Ln(3+)) in aqueous solution, the emission color of which can be fine-tuned by changing various parameters such as the molar ratio of Eu3+ to Tb3+, excitation wavelength, and the temperature. White lights with satisfied color coordinates have been achieved. The emission intensity ratio of D-5(4) -> F-7(5) transition (Tb3+) to D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (Eu3+) of the composite containing both Eu3+ and Tb3+ can be linearly related to temperature in the range from 78 K to 288 K. These characteristics make the composites suitable for optoelectronic devices such as thermosensors and white light LED.