Electronic excitation energy transfer between Tb3+ and Eu3+ in DMSO

Excitation of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in DMSO with 487 mμ, which corresponds to the ⁷F₆ → ⁵D₄ transition of Tb³⁺, is accompanied by a reduction in the fluorescence efficiency of Tb³⁺ as Eu³⁺] increases and by the appearance of a weak emission from Eu³⁺. An average rate constant for both the fluorescence quenching of Tb³⁺ and the energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ with subsequent emission from the latter, was found to be (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10³ M^?1 sec^?1.