White-Light Emissive Silver-Exchanged Nanoporous NaP1 Zeolites

Abstract

Silver nanoclusters (Ag-NCs) encapsulated into zeolite scaffolds, a class of photostable luminescent nanomaterials, have aroused great interest due to their attractive photoluminescence (PL) properties and promising applications as alternative phosphors for light-emitting devices. However, current research predominantly features single-color emitters in luminescent Ag-exchanged zeolites. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of white-light emissive Ag-exchanged NaP1 zeolites obtained from natural clinoptilolite through hydrothermal processes are described. Samples were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), steady-state PL spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy analysis. Optically and chemically pure NaP1 zeolites were obtained from nonconventional precursors and subsequently exchanged with Ag loadings (12.5, 25, 33, 50, and 66 wt %), resulting in luminescent samples after a thermal activation at 450 °C with quantum efficiencies of up to 6.2% and a broad emission band (full width at half-maximum = 31250 cm–1) when excited at 380 nm. The strategy to obtain white-light emissive materials presented in this study opens alternative avenues for the development of sustainable phosphors, decreasing the burden of nonrenewable resources.