Photoluminescence studies of stilbene laser dye incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) with sulphur dioxide

Photoluminescence spectra of different concentration of laser grade dye stilbene dye solution and stilbene incorporated in mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) had been studied and compared to determine maximum quantum yield. High quantum yield was obtained for 10(-3) M concentration stilbene incorporated MSN. This stilbene incorporated MSN silica is shown to give a fluorescence response to gaseous sulphur dioxide, with a response time of a few seconds and fluorescence emission intensity is proportional to the sulphur dioxide concentration, which are desirable properties for gas sensing. These features together make this MSN material very promising for optical sensing applications.