New luminescent organic-inorganic hybrid particles based on Tb-doped aluminates and asparagine (Asn) surface modifiers were investigated. The Tb3+ doped inorganic core was obtained by spray pyrolysis, at 200 ºC γ-AlOOH (BOE:Tbx%) or at 700 ºC γ-Al2O3 (γTA:Tbx%). The reaction of Asn with boehmite in water disaggregated the sub-micronic boehmite particles to give stable dispersion of surface modified nanoparticles Asn:BOE:Tbx% (x = 1 or 5). Concerning the Asn:γTA:Tbx% system, an Asn film wrapping alumina particles was observed. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited the bands assigned to Tb3+5D4 → 7FJ = 6-3 transitions. A broad absorption band (240 nm) was assigned to the host (aluminate) to ion (Tb3+) energy transfer. Efficient energy transfer was observed when active ions are incorporated in the defect-spinel structure of γTA, whereas it was relatively weak for BOE:Tb where Tb3+ are bonded to the hydroxyls groups at nanocrystals surface. It is noticeable that Asn strengthens the linkage of Tb3+ with the aluminate matrix, enhancing the host to dopant energy transfer.

The Spray Pyrolysis (SP) process has been employed at moderate temperature (470-970 K) for the synthesis of micro- and nano-particles of hydrated metal oxides and of related nanocomposites. It has been applied to iron nitrate solutions, without or with the addition of sodium chloride as a flux. After removal of the flux, nanocomposites of ferrihydrite (5Fe2O3,9H2O) / hematite (α- Fe2O3) / and an amorphous Fe2O3 are obtained, with surface area 140 m²/g. It has been applied also to a sol of Aluminum-tri-sec-butoxide, without or with activation by europium or terbium ions. Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) powders are synthesized at 470 K, with surface area equal to 180 m²/g. Transition alumina (γ-Al2O3) are synthesized at 970 K. Nanocomposites made by reaction of the boehmite or γ-Al2O3 particles with the amino acid asparagin (ASN) have been prepared and characterized. The luminescence of the Eu3+ or Tb3+ doped nanocomposites has been investigated: they can be considered as bio-compatible luminescent nanoparticles.