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A procedure for the chemical immobilization of a new ZnII–EuIII heterobimetallic complex in the SiO2 aerogel matrix has been developed. In this Zn–Eu complex, a peripheral non-luminescent Zn ion acts as a binder to a silica matrix and prevents direct interaction of rare-earth ions with OH− and NH− groups in the silica matrix, which would have a detrimental effect on the luminescence of lanthanides. The procedure includes the synthesis of complexes, co-gelation of the obtained complex with SiO2 sol, the washing of lyogels, and their subsequent supercritical drying in CO2. The composition and properties of the obtained aerogels were investigated using a low-temperature nitrogen adsorption technique, helium pycnometry, FTIR, Raman, UV–visible, and luminescence spectroscopy, XPS, PXRD, SEM, TEM, TGA combined with mass spectrometry, and small-angle neutron scattering. The aerogels modified with the ZnII–EuIII complex demonstrated strong red luminescence upon excitation with UV light.

Since the late 1960s, ceric hydrogen phosphates have attracted the attention of scientists due to remarkable ion exchange, sorption, proton-conduction and catalytic properties. In this work, through the application of various solvents, we, for the first time, have obtained monolithic aerogels based on ceric hydrogen phosphates with high porosity (~99%) and extremely low density (~10 microg/cm3). The composition and structure of aerogels were thoroughly studied with XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, low temperature nitrogen adsorption methods, TGA/DSC, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The aerogels were found to belong to the fibrous macroporous aerogels family.