Modification of the optical properties of fluoropolymers by supercritical fluid impregnation with europium β-diketonates

Optical properties of a number of fluoroacrylate-based fluoropolymers doped with europium β-diketonates by means of supercritical fluid impregnation were studied. The influence of the type of polymer matrix on the process of impregnation of europium β-diketonate molecules into it and the evolution of the optical properties of the doped polymers during a long-term storage were revealed. A comparative analysis of the quantum yield (λ_exc = 300 and 380 nm) and thermosensitivity of the photoluminescence of Eu3+ ions for different europium β-diketonates and polymer structures was performed. It was demonstrated that the supercritical fluid extraction of unreacted photoinitiator residues from polymer samples makes it possible to substantially enhance their transparency at wavelengths shorter than 300 nm.     

Syntheses and electroluminescent properties of two europium ternary complexes Eu(DBM)3(PBO) and Eu(DBM)3(PBT)

Two europium complexes, Eu(DBM)₃(PBO) and Eu(DBM)₃(PBT) (DBM=dibenzoylmethanato, PBO=2-(2-pyridyl)benzoxazole, PBT=2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole), were prepared and used as emitting materials in organic electroluminescent (EL) devices. The devices with the structures ITO/TPD/Eu(DBM)₃(PBO) (or Eu(DBM)₃(PBT)/BCP/Alq₃/Mg:Ag/Ag emit red light originating from the europium complexes.     

Luminescence of praseodymium (III) in solutions of mixed-ligand complexes with β-diketones

We have found that it is possible to enhance the luminescence of Pr(III) in solutions of complexes with β-diketones: acetylacetone derivatives containing fluoroalkyl substituents of different lengths and structures. We have established that in the presence of organic solvents, second (additional) ligands, and surfactants shielding the central ion from the quenching effect of the water molecules (OH oscillators), the intensity of luminescence for Pr(III) increases by a factor of 65, 38, and 45 respectively. In this case, cationic surfactants form ionic associates with Pr(III) β-diketonates, with incorporation of one more β-diketone molecule (ratio Pr:β-diketonate:surfactant = 1:4:1). As a result of suppression of intramolecular energy losses in solutions of Pr(III) β-diketonates, it is possible to observe its rather intense luminescence at 605 nm (the transition ¹D₂ → ³H₄), 612 nm (³P₀ → ³H₆), and 646 nm (³P₀ → 3F₂). __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 746–750, November–December, 2006.     

A europium(III) organic ternary complex applied in fabrication of?near UV-based white light-emitting diodes

A β-diketone, 2-acetylfluorene-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione (HAFTFBD), and its three europium(III) complexes, Eu(AFTFBD)₃⋅2H₂O, Eu(AFTFBD)₃(TPPO)₂ and Eu(AFTFBD)₃phen, were designed and synthesized, where TPPO was triphenylphosphine oxide and phen was 1,10-phenanthroline. The complexes were characterized by IR, UV-visible, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the Eu(III) complexes exhibit a high thermal stability,and wide and strong excitation bands when monitored at 613 nm. Excited by ∼395 nm near UV light, the complexes emitted strong and characteristic red light due to f–f transitions of the central Eu³⁺ ion, and no emission from the ligands was found. The photoluminescence mechanism of the europium(III) complexes was investigated and proposed as a ligand-sensitized luminescence process. Among the three europium(III) complexes, Eu(AFTFBD)₃phen exhibits the highest thermal stability and the most excellent photoluminescence properties. A bright red light-emitting diode was fabricated by coating the Eu(AFTFBD)₃phen complex onto an ∼395 nm-emitting InGaN chip, and the LED showed appropriate CIE chromaticity coordinates (x=0.66, y=0.33). A white LED with CIE chromaticity coordinates (x=0.32, y=0.32) was prepared with Eu(AFTFBD)₃phen as red phosphor, indicating that Eu(AFTFBD)₃phen can be applied as a red component for fabrication of near ultraviolet-based white light-emitting diodes.     

Investigation of the photoluminescence properties of composite optical resins containing high lanthanide content

Novel composite optical resins with high lanthanide content have been synthesized through a free radical copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MA), styrene (St) and Eu(DBM)₃·H₂O nanocrystals. We characterized the structure, the thermal properties, dimensions and photoluminescence properties of Eu(DBM)₃·H₂O nanocrystals. Our results indicated that the diameters of the Eu(DBM)₃·H₂O nanocrystals were within the range of 30 to 300 nm. These materials exhibited characteristic europium ion luminescence. The europium-bearing nanocrystals and were then incorporated into the copolymer systems of MA/St and luminescence functional optical resins with high lanthanide content (50 wt%) were obtained. The combination of these particles and optical resins is facile because the diameter of Eu(DBM)₃·H₂O is decreased. These copolymer-based optical resins not only possess good transparency and mechanical performance, but also exhibit an intense narrow band emission of lanthanide complexes and longer fluorescence lifetimes under UV excitation at room temperature.     

Influence of ligands on the photoluminescent properties of Eu in europium β-diketonate/PMMA-doped systems

Three kinds of europium β-diketonates Eu(DBM)₃, Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ (DBM: Dibenzoylmethane; BA: 1-Benzoylacetone; TTA: Thenoyltrifluoroacetone) were doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The doped systems were studied by using photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy, emission decay experiments and X-ray diffractometry. Eu(III) ions in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems have two distinct symmetric sites and the emission band changes greatly with the compositions. Eu(III) in the Eu(BA)₃/PMMA systems gives only one symmetric site in the doped systems and the emission band changes slightly with the compositions. Although two distinct symmetric sites of Eu(III) can be distinguished in the doped systems of Eu(TTA)₃/PMMA, the two sites have similar ⁵D₀ lifetimes and the luminescent spectra almost do not change with the compositions. XRD reveals that crystallites were formed in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems that have different crystalline structure from that of the chelate, and Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ exist in amorphous state in the doped systems. The difference between the PL properties and structures of the doped systems for the three kinds of chelates should be attributed to different interactions between the chelate molecules and between the chelate and PMMA.     

Synthesis and electroluminescent properties of a carbozole-functionalized europium(III) complex

A novel europium(III) complex, tris(dibenzoylmethanate){1-[9-hexyl-9H-carbazole]-2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole}europium(III) [Eu(DBM)₃(CAR-PyBM)] functionalized by a carbozole fragment, was synthesized and used as emitting material in organic electroluminescent (EL) devices. Compared with the device based on an unfunctional Eu(III) complex, [Eu(DBM)₃HPyBM] (HPyBM=2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole), the EL performances of the device using [Eu(DBM)₃(CAR-PyBM)] as an emitter was significantly enhanced due to the improvement of hole-transporting ability. The maximum efficiency and luminance of red emission achieved from the device with the configuration of ITO/N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′diamine (TPD, 50 nm)/ [Eu(DBM)₃(CAR-PyBM)] (30 nm)/1,3,5-tirs-(N-phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzene (TPBI, 20 nm)/LiF (1.5 nm)/Al were 4.2 cd/A and 200 cd/m², respectively.     

An efficient 2-linked carbazolyl β-diketonate europium(III) complex as red phosphor applied in LED

An efficient 2-linked carbazolyl β-diketonate europium(III) complex Eu(ETFMCTFBD)₃phen was designed and synthesized, where ETFMCTFBD was 1-(9-ethyl-7-(trifluoromethyl)-9H-carbazol-2-yl)-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione and phen was 1,10-phenanthroline. Eu(ETFMCTFBD)₃phen exhibits high thermal stability and excellent photoluminescence properties. The CIE chromaticity coordinates (x=0.668, y=0.331) are close to the National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) standard values for red. The lowest triplet energy was measured and suggests the photoluminescence process as a ligand-sensitized luminescence process (antenna effect). A bright red light-emitting diode was fabricated by coating the complex phosphor onto a ∼395 nm-emitting InGaN chip. All the results indicate that Eu(ETFMCTFBD)₃phen is a good candidate as a red component in the fabrication of white LEDs with a high color-rendering index.     

基于邻菲咯啉的反应型三元铕配合物的合成与荧光性质

以二苯甲酰甲烷(HDBM)为第一配体,5-丙烯酰胺基-1,10-菲咯啉(Aphen)为活性第二配体,制备了新的反应型三元铕配合物Eu(DBM)₃Aphen。通过元素分析、红外光谱和热分析对配合物进行了组成确定,采用紫外光谱、荧光光谱、荧光寿命和荧光量子产量研究了配合物的光物理性能。结果表明,在紫外光激发下,配合物Eu(DBM)₃Aphen能发射Eu3+的特征荧光,其荧光发射强度、单色性、荧光寿命和荧光量子产率等均显著高于文献报道的丙烯酸配合物Eu(DBM)₂AA的相应数值,表明配合物Eu(DBM)₃Aphen不仅可作为潜在的红色发光材料,还可作为反应型的配合物,为制备具有优异发光性能的稀土聚合物提供了一条新的途径。     

Properties of a thin-film electroluminescent diode based on poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcarbazole) doped by the tris complex of europium with dibenzoylmethane and 1,10-phenanthroline

The electroluminescence spectra of thin-film organic diodes with light-emitting layers that consist of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) doped by the tris complex of europium with dibenzoylmethane and 1,10-phenanthroline [Eu(DBM)₃phen] are investigated. It is revealed that an increase in the Eu(DBM)₃phen concentration in the light-emitting layer leads to an increase in the decay rate of electroluminescence of the cell. A decrease in the contribution from the intensity of the luminescence lines associated with the Eu(DBM)₃phen complex to the total electroluminescence spectrum of the cell with time is explained by the degradation of Eu(DBM)₃phen molecules upon excitation.     

Synthesis and Luminescence of a Novel Conjugated Europium Complex with 6-Aniline Carbonyl 2-Pyridine Carboxylic Acid

A novel organic ligand, 6-aniline carbonyl 2-pyridine carboxylic acid (HAP), and the corresponding europium complex, tris(6-aniline carbonyl 2-pyridine carboxylato) europium (III) (Eu-AP) have been designed and synthesized. The results showed that Eu-AP was a conjugated complex, emitting strong red luminescence. The lifetimes of ⁵D₀ of Eu³⁺ in the complex were examined using time-resolved spectroscopic analysis, and the lifetime value was 0.55 ± 0.01 ms for solid Eu(AP)₃. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the europium complex had good thermal stability.     

Photoluminescence study of new lanthanide complexes with benzeneseleninic acids

New lanthanide complexes with benzeneseleninic (ABSe) and 4-chloro-benzeneseleninic (ABSeCl) acids have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies. The emission spectra of the trivalent europium complexes presented the typical electronic ⁵D₀→⁷F_J transitions of the ion (J=0–4). The ground-state geometries of the europium complexes have been calculated by using the Sparkle/AM1 model. From these results, the 4f–4f intensity parameters and energies of the ligand singlet and triplet excited states have been obtained. The lower emission quantum yield for the [Eu(ABSe)₃(H₂O)₂](H₂O)₂ compound, as compared to the [Eu(ABSeCl)₃(H₂O)₂] one, can be associated to the higher numbers of water molecules, in the first and second coordination spheres, that contribute to the luminescence quenching. The [Eu(ABSe)₃(H₂O)₂](H₂O)₂ complex presents an intermediate state whose energy difference with respect to the first excited singlet state is resonant with three phonons from the water molecules, favouring a multiphonon relaxation process from the singlet state followed by a fast internal conversion process; this effect is less pronounced in the complex with the ABSeCl ligand. The luminescence decay curves of the gadolinium complexes indicate that the level responsible for the intramolecular energy transfer process has a triplet character for both compounds. The nephelauxetic effect in these compounds was investigated under the light of a recently proposed covalency scale based on the concept of overlap polarizability of the chemical bond.     

Metal plasmon enhanced europium complex luminescence

The plasmon enhanced luminescence of a rare-earth complex Tris(6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8-heptafluoro-2, 2-dimethyl-3, 5-octanedionato) europium (Eu(fod)₃) was investigated. A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin film was successfully adopted as a spacer to separate the Eu complex from the silver island film (SIF), and five-fold enhancement of the radiative decay rate of the Eu complex on SIF was demonstrated based on the luminescence intensity and lifetime measurement. Investigation of the distance dependent luminescence indicates that 7 nm is an optimal distance for SIF enhanced Eu luminescence. Plasmon enhanced rare-earth luminescence based on an organic film spacer would find potential applications in plasmon enhanced organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices.     

Judd–Ofelt treatment on luminescence of europium complexes with β-diketone and bis(β-diketone)

Eu(DBM)₃2H₂O and Eu₂(DDBM)₃H₂O were synthesized by reactions between EuCl₃ and chelating regents of β-diketone (dibenzoylmethane, HDBM) and bis(β-diketone) (1,3-bis(3-phenyl-3-oxopropanoyl)benzene, H₂DDBM), respectively, and their luminescence properties were investigated by the fluorescence spectra and metastable state decay spectra. It was found that the relative intensity ratio of ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ to ⁵D₀→⁷F₁transition and the radiative lifetime shows a little change attributing to the different symmetry of europium ions, which Ω₂ of Eu complexes with β-diketone and bis(β-diketone) are 13.08 and 12.24, respectively. Moreover, it was also found that the metastable state lifetime of Eu₂(DDBM)₃H₂O is much longer than that of Eu(DBM)₃2H₂O, due to smaller water quenching and lower triplet level of ligands. The Commission Internacionale d’Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates calculated from emission spectrum are x=0.637 and y=0.343 for Eu₂(DDBM)₃H₂O, which presents high red color purity near 100%.     

Energy transfer from a polymer host to a europium complex in light-emitting diodes

Energy transfer leading to electroluminescence of a lanthanide complex, Eu(Fod)₃MK (Fod=heptafluoro-dimethyl-octanedionate, MK=4, 4′-bis(N,N-dimethylaminobenzophenone) doped into PVK host is investigated. The optical properties of pure Eu(Fod)₃MK and its doping in PVK show that the PVK host can efficiently transfer energy to europium ions through a co-ligand of MK due to good spectrally overlap. Light-emitting diodes (LED) consisting of PVK doped with 1-5 wt% of Eu(Fod)₃MK also demonstrates this energy transfer. Organolanthanide complexes doped into a wide-gap conducting polymers would lead to efficient and pure red organic LEDs to solve the full colour conjugated polymer displays.     

Luminescent crystals of MIIGa2S4:Er3+ (MII = Eu, Yb, Ca)

We have studied the photoluminescent properties of M^IIGa₂S₄:Er³⁺ polycrystals (M^II = Eu, Yb, Ca) for excitation by radiation with λ = 976 nm as a function of temperature. The samples were obtained by solid-state reaction. We have studied the comparative characteristics of the anti-Stokes and IR luminescence of these luminophores. We have determined the mechanisms for anti-Stokes emission of M^IIGa₂S₄:Er³⁺ crystals. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 3, pp. 332–335, May–June, 2007.     

Spectroscopic studies on the luminescence properties of ternary europium complexes with different ligands

In this paper, ligand effect of several bi-dental oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) ligands on the red luminescence properties of europium ion (Eu³⁺) was studied comprehensively. Absorption, emission, and excitation spectral properties of ternary europium complexes with different combinations of ligands including thenoyl trifluoroacetone (TTA), naphthyl trifluoroacetone (NTA), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and phenanthroline (Phen) were investigated. Efficient Eu³⁺ red emission was observed with all the combinations of the above mentioned ligands. The most intense emission was found with the all nitrogen coordinated complex Eu(bpy)₂(Phen)₂ while the longest wavelength excitation band was recorded with oxygen-nitrogen mixed NTA-bpy complex Eu(NTA)₁(bpy)₃. With change of the ligands combination and ratio, the Eu³⁺ emission peak changes slightly from 612 to 618 nm. The absorption and excitation spectra of the europium complexes were compared and analyzed referring to the individual absorption spectral properties of the ligands. The relation between ligand-to-metal charge transfer states and luminescence intensities for different complexes was studied.     

Intraband luminescence spectra of insulators and semiconductors excited by pulsed electron beams or electric fields

The features of the intraband luminescence spectrum of wide-gap insulators (KI, KBr, CsCl, etc.) and semiconductors (GaP, CdS, α-SiC, and ZnS) are studied in the temperature interval 80–760 K. The spectra of the intraband luminescence are compared with the spectra of the pre-breakdown electroluminescence of GaP and α-SiC surface-barrier diode structures and of a ZnS thin-film electroluminescence indicator. In alkali halide crystals the short-wavelength boundary hν _m of the intraband luminescence is less than the band gap E _g and is governed by complex excitonic processes. In semiconductors with indirect transitions hν _m>E _g. The differences in the spectra of the intraband luminescence and the intraband pre-breakdown electroluminescence can be explained by differences in the distributions of the hot charge carriers over levels of the allowed bands and in the maximum energies of the carriers involved in the formation of the spectra. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 613–617 (April 1997)     

Thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in Li<Subscript>6</Subscript>(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals

The thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in crystals of the lithium borate family Li₆(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO₃)₃ have been investigated. The steady-state luminescence spectra under X-ray excitation (X-ray luminescence spectra), the temperature dependences of the X-ray luminescence intensity, and the glow curves for the Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃, Li₆Eu(BO₃)₃, Li₆Y_0.5Gd_0.5(BO₃)₃: Eu, and Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃: Eu compounds have been measured in the temperature range 90–500 K. In the X-ray luminescence spectra, the band at 312 nm corresponding to the ⁶ P _J → ⁸ S _7/2 transitions in the Gd³⁺ ion and the group of lines at 580–700 nm due to the ⁵ D ₀ → ⁷ F _J transitions (J = 0–4) in the Eu³⁺ ion are dominant. For undoped crystals, the X-ray luminescence intensity of these bands increases by a factor of 15 with a change in the temperature from 100 to 400 K. The possible mechanisms providing the observed temperature dependence of the intensity and their relation to the specific features of energy transfer of electronic excitations in these crystals have been discussed. It has been revealed that the glow curves for all the crystals under investigation exhibit the main complex peak with the maximum at a temperature of 110–160 K and a number of weaker peaks with the composition and structure dependent on the crystal type. The nature of shallow trapping centers responsible for the thermally stimulated luminescence in the range below room temperature and their relation to defects in the lithium cation sublattice have been analyzed.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of mesophase silica thin films doped with in-situ formed europium complex

Mesophase silica thin film doped with in-situ formed ternary Eu complex was synthesized by adding ligands (DBM=dibenzoylmethane, phen=1,10-phenanthroline), Eu ions (EuCl₃·6H₂O), and Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer into hydrolyzed tetramethoxy-silane (TMOS). The structure of this inorganic/organic film was characterized as a 2d-hexagonal structure by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM analysis. The excitation spectra (λ_em=612 nm) and emission spectra (λ_ex=325 nm) indicated that the ternary complex, Eu-DBM-phen, was formed in-situ during the formation of the film. The mesophase silica thin film doped with the in-situ formed Eu complex showed a higher quantum efficiency compared to a pure Eu(DBM)₃phen complex and a mesophase silica thin film doped with in-situ formed binary Eu-phen complex.