C₆₀ induced photoluminescence of a silica molecular sieve

The optical properties of the regular, 3-nm-wide hexagonal channels of the mesoporous silica molecular sieve (MCM-41) containing C₆₀ are reported. Besides an intensive photoluminescence response at 642 nm from confined C₆₀, a more intensive photoluminescence at 484 nm has been observed which is considered to result from the passivation of silica zeolite with C₆₀. Our studies indicate that both the properties of guest and host can be modified due to the interaction at the interface of them. © 1997 American Institute of Physics