Transparent, luminescent, and highly organized monolayers of zeolite L

Abstract

Herein we report on the fabrication of very dense, highly homogenous, well-oriented and highly organized luminescent monolayers by arranging zeolite L (ZL) microcrystals onto the multi-functional linker modified quartz plates. ZL microcrystals readily assemble in the form of a c-oriented monolayer with perfect coverage and close packing on the 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)-functionalized quartz plates. Additional functionalization through coordination to Eu³⁺ ions to the TTA moieties leads to ZL monolayers with very high quality exhibiting strong luminescence. Alternatively, the luminescence color of the layers is fine tuned by arranging ZL microcrystals with Tb³⁺ ions and sensitizer loaded in the nanochannels on the luminescent quartz plates. Transparent, luminescent and uniformly oriented layers are obtained by coating the polymer of PVA on top of the ZL monolayers in a facile way. SEM and photoluminescence spectroscopy were employed to characterize the oriented monolayers.