Luminescence of Europium complex enhanced by surface plasmons of gold nanoparticles for possible application in luminescent solar concentrators

The paper consists of two parts, the first part is a short description of continuous brilliant scientific activity of Renata Reisfeld and the second part consists of the new findings of luminescence of Europium complex increased by surface plasmons of gold nanoparticles. The studies were performed in Jerusalem for improvement of efficiency of luminescent solar concentrators. The paper describes synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their incorporation into organically modified silica sol-gel matrix co-doped by Europium complex with ligands of EDTA and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The steady state spectroscopy of samples undoped and co-doped by nanoparticles reveals increase of fluorescence of the complexes in presence of gold nanoparticles. The phenomenon arises from scattered light by the nanoparticles and possibly energy transfer.