A novel stable and efficient light-emitting solid based on saponite and luminescent POSS

Abstract

A novel hybrid organic/inorganic clay prepared by intercalation of a luminescent polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) in a nanosized synthetic saponite clay was synthesized and characterized by a multidisciplinary approach including XRD, HRTEM, TGA and UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The luminescent POSS was obtained by linking a cyanine (IRIS3COOH) on the POSS cage functionalized with two amino groups (sample named IRIS3-POSS-NH₂). One of the amino groups served for the inclusion in the saponite interlayer space. The final hybrid material (IRIS3-POSS-NH₃/SAP), characterized by high quantum efficiency and improved thermal and photochemical stability with respect to the pure luminescent POSS and dye, was successfully tested as the luminescent layer in a hybrid light emitting diode (HLED) device.