The innovative hydrogel template (polyacrylamide or polyacrylic acid) directed synthesis of YVO4:Eu3+ phosphor in a controlled manner was thoroughly studied. Photoluminescence spectra show the europium(III)-doped yttrium orthovanadate could exhibit strong red emissions within the soft matrix (polyacrylamide) and remain relatively stable even when the temperature reached nearly 100 °C. After calcination process, X-ray powder diffraction patterns, SEM and DLS measurements implied that the sample was in agreement with pure tetragonal phase and the particle sizes were in the range of 100–200 nm. More importantly, YVO4:Eu3+ products prepared based on hydrogels have remarkable improvement in emission intensities compared to phosphors synthesized by conventional approach. Similar results of overall quantum efficiency also support that YVO4:Eu3+ assembled by PAM hydrogel (1.94%) is better than the routine way (0.91%).Highlights► YVO4:Eu3+ could be formed within the soft matrix. ► The as-derived YVO4:Eu3+ exhibited red emissions and remain relatively stable nearly 100 °C. ► YVO4:Eu3+ prepared by hydrogels has remarkable improvement in emission intensities.

We have reported the synthesis of three chemical bonded hybrid materials based on silica matrices composed of terbium ions and aromatic acid derivatives. Of significant importance, ligand 1 was grafted with three long alkyl chains and the as-derived hybrid 1 exhibited attracting green luminescence in solid matrices which is much stronger than ligand 2 which does not bear aliphatic chains. All the fluorescence spectra, quantum yields, and time-resolved spectra proved that the side chains influence for the effective sensitization of terbium ions.

The preparation of a novel type of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic organogelator bearing three long 14-alkyl chains and hydrophilic oligo(oxyethylene) groups was described. Ultra-violet absorption and fluorescence spectra give evidence of the energy transfer between organic ligands to lanthanide ions. Characteristic green, blue and red luminescence of the organogels were obtained and interesting emission properties of terbium, dysprosium and europium ions were unexpectedly observed at the first time during the order-disorder phase transition point (29 °C).