Thermally stable luminescent composites fabricated by confining rare earth complexes in the two-dimensional gallery of titania nanosheets and their photophysical properties

Fluorescent composite materials of exfoliated titania nanosheets, Ti(0.91)O(2), and rare earth (RE) complexes, Eu(phen)(2)Cl(3).2H(2)O and Tb(phen)(2)Cl(3).2H(2)O (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), were synthesized via flocculation between them. X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed a restacked lamellar structure for the composites, and elemental analysis revealed a high RE complex content of 15 wt %. The decomposition temperature of the complexes trapped in the composites was improved to 420 degrees C from 250 degrees C for the free form. The restacked composite composed of Ti(0.91)O(2) nanosheets and Eu(phen)(2) exhibited characteristic red emission from the complex, while the composite with Tb(phen)(2) gave featureless emission originated from the ligand. This phenomenon can be explained by a shift of triplet state level of the ligand after encapsulation in the host titania nanosheets. The quantum yield of europium complex in the composite was enhanced 1.6 times more than that of the pure complex.