Environment and thermal effects in emission spectrum of europium (III) acetate hydrate in artificial opal photonic crystal films.

Single artificial opal films, grown by the method of vertically moving meniscus and characterized by the reflection spectroscopy technique, have been impregnated with the Eu(CH3COO)3·xH2O salt. The influence of glycerol, embedded additionally in opal pores to reduce the dielectric contrast, on the europium (III) emission spectrum has been investigated. The effect of local heating of the emitting substance in opal pores under laser excitation is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]