Luminescent alumina-based aerogels modified with tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum

A facile procedure was developed for the production of Al2O3 aerogels modified with tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum complex (AlQ3). The addition of 8-hydroxyquinoline during the stage of alumina lyogel formation was found to increase gelation duration. The translucent monolithic aerogels were obtained by supercritical drying of lyogels in CO2. The composition and properties of aerogels were analyzed using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, helium pycnometry, IR spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry combined with mass spectrometry. The obtained aerogels had low density (0.15–0.18 g cm−3), high specific surface area (480–550 m2/g), high porosity (90–95%), and showed bright luminescence upon excitation in the UV range.