Preparation of C60-doped silica aerogels and the study of photoluminescence properties

The preparation of C-60-doped silica aerogels by the sol-gel process is described in this article. Fourier transfer infrared spectra, time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy showed that C-60 was incorporated into silica aerogels, and the C-60 structure was retained in the preparation process. The C-60-doped silica aerogels emitted intense visible light (2.10 eV) under Ar+ laser (488 nm) excitation at room temperature, and the photoluminescence peak was " blueshifted" when compared with C-60's The blueshift is explained based on a quantum confinement effect. (C) 2000 American Vacuum Society. [S0734-211X(00)06404-0].