Structural and luminescence studies of trivalent europium complexes with pentaethylene glycol and 18-crown-6 ligands in the presence of picrate anion

Two new isostructural complexes of europium picrate (Eu-Pic) with pentaethylene glycol (EO5) and 18-crown-6 (18C6) ligands formed complexes of molecular formula [Eu(Pic)₂(18C6)]⁺(Pic)⁻I and [Eu(Pic)₂(EO5)]⁺(Pic)⁻II have been isolated and characterised. Compound I showed 10-coordination number through six oxygen atoms from the 18C6 ligand and two bidentate picrate anions. Meanwhile, compound II exhibited 9-coordination number via six oxygen atoms from EO5 ligand, two oxygen atoms from a bidentate and one oxygen atom from monodentate picrate anions. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the solid-state europium complexes display sharp lines which are assigned to ⁵D₀→⁷F_0-4 and ⁵D₁→⁷F_1,2,4 transitions. No emission of polyether ligands is observed, indicating that the energy transfer from the polyether ligands to the Eu³⁺ ion is quite efficient. The PL spectra of [Eu(Pic)₂(OH₂)₆]⁺(Pic)⁻·6H₂O III, [Eu(NO₃)₃(OH₂)₃]·(18C6) IV, [Eu(NO₃)₃·6H₂O] V and Eu₂O₃VI are also observed. Compounds I-IV exhibited high Ω₂ intensity parameter values, namely 16.93, 10.23, 17.10 and 12.35 (in units of 10⁻²⁰ cm²), respectively. These relatively high values reflect the hypersensitive behaviour of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition and indicate that the Eu³⁺ ion is located in a highly polarisable chemical environment.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of two Schiff-base boron complexes

Schiff bases N,N′-o-phenylenebis (salicylideneimine) (H₂L¹), N,N′-p-phenylenebis (salicylideneimine) (H₂L²) and their corresponding boron complexes (BF₂)₂L¹, (BF₂)₂L² were synthesized, respectively. The two boron complexes have been characterized by ¹H NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis, while the luminescent properties of them were investigated with UV-VIS spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Then the three-layer devices [ITO/NPB (60 nm)/(BF₂)₂L¹ (50 nm)/Alq3 (20 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (200 nm)] (device I) and [ITO/NPB (60 nm)/(BF₂)₂L² (50 nm)/Alq3 (20 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (200 nm)] (device II) were fabricated by vacuum deposition. These two devices both exhibited blue green emission at 500 nm, but showed different luminances and efficiencies.     

Syntheses, structures and photophysical properties of heteronuclear Zn-Ln coordination complexes

Four heteronuclear Zn-Ln coordination complexes, [Nd₂Zn₂(p-toluylate)₁₀(phen)₂] (1), [Ln₂Zn₂(p-toluylate)₁₀(phen)₂]·2(HAc)_1/2 (Ln=Tb 2, Ho 3) and [PrZn₂(p-toluylate)₅(Ac)₂(phen)₂] (4) (phen=1, 10-phenanthroline), are synthesized by the hydrothermal method and their structures are measured by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The IR and UV-vis-NIR absorption spectra and the emission spectra in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions of the four complexes are determined at room temperature. In the NIR region (or in the visible region), the complexes show the characteristic emission bands of Ln³⁺ ions, which may be attributed to sensitization from the ligands (the ligand directly-coordinated to Ln³⁺ ions and d-block) to Ln³⁺ ions after forming the Zn-Ln complexes. It is reported for the first time in this paper that the Zn-Pr complex 4 can exhibit the broad emission band in the NIR region. In addition, the shift, split or broadness of the ff emission bands in the NIR region of complexes 1, 3 and 4 are discussed.     

Reversible photomagnetism in a cobalt layered compound coupled with photochromic diarylethene

Photomagnetism is one of the most attractive topics in recent research on molecular solids. In order to produce a photo-controllable magnet, we have synthesized a novel organic-inorganic hybrid system coupled with a photochromic diarylethene anion, 2,2′-dimethyl-3,3′-(perfluorocyclopentene-1,2-diyl)bis(benzo[b]thiophene-6-sulfonate) (1a) and cobalt LDHs (layered double hydroxides). Based on the elemental analysis, the title compound, which was synthesized by the anion exchange reaction between Co₂(OH)₃(CH₃COO)·H₂O (2) and 1a, has the chemical composition, Co₄(OH)₇(1a)_0.5·3H₂O (3). Powder X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the interlayer distance of c=27.8 Å. The magnetic susceptibility measurements elucidated the ferromagnetic intra- and inter-layer interactions and the Curie temperature of T_c=9 K. By UV irradiation of 313 nm, 3 shows the photo-isomerization of diarylethene anion from the open form to the closed one in solid state, which leads to the decreases in the coercive field and the remnant magnetization. Furthermore, the photo-excited state is returned to the initial state (open form) almost reversibly by visible irradiation of 550 nm.     

Photoluminescent properties of heteroleptic cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes bearing 1,3-bis(3,4-dibutoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dionate as an ancillary ligand

A new series of heteroleptic cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes Pt-1a-f was synthesized, employing 2-arylpyridine (or 1-arylisoquinoline) (HC^∧N-1) and 1,3-bis(3,4-dibutoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione (HO^∧O-1) for cyclometalation and as ancillary ligands, respectively, and photoluminescent properties were investigated. Focusing on red-shifted phosphorescence, C^∧N ligands containing π-extended aromatics and electron-rich heterocycles were examined. All obtained complexes exhibited photoluminescence at ambient temperature, and the emission maxima ranged from green (λ_PL=518 nm) to far red (λ_PL=708 nm). The large Stokes shifts of more than 100 nm and sub-microsecond or microsecond emission lifetimes revealed that these complexes are phosphorescent emissive. The quantum yield of Pt-1 ranged from 0.02 to 0.59 at ambient temperature and decreased as the emission maximum was red-shifted. In comparison with the reference platinum(II) complexes, Pt-2 bearing an aliphatic ancillary ligand, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate (O^∧O-2), the ligand O^∧O-1 did not significantly affect the photoluminescence emission maxima, indicating that the energy gap between the singlet ground state and the triplet level was predominantly dependent on the C^∧N ligand.     

Photosensitized luminescence of thermostable polynuclear Eu(III) complexes

Tetranuclear europium(III) complexes, [Eu₄(μ-O)(L₁)₁₀] (L₁=2-hydroxy-4-octyloxybenzophenone,1) and [Eu₄(μ-O)(L₂)₁₀] (L₂=2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxybenzophenone,2) were synthesized by the reaction of lanthanide nitrates with L₁ or L₂ in the presence of triethylamine in methanol. The photosensitized emission bands of the both Eu(III) complexes in THF-d₈ were observed around 579, 590, 615, 653, and 699 nm by the excitation of the ligands at 380 nm, whereas the emission from the mononuclear complex 3 containing ethanol molecules was almost quenched. The emission efficiencies were determined to be 3.1±0.1% for 1 and 3.9±0.1% for 2, respectively. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements demonstrated that the decomposition points of 1 and 2 were 309 °C and 320 °C, respectively, indicating high thermostability of these complexes compared to the mononuclear Eu(III) complex 3 (250 °C). New strategy for designing stable rare earth compounds giving strong emission would be emphasized by introducing polynuclear complexes. Polynuclear complexes should open a wide range of molecular design for photosensitized luminescence and thermal stability.     

Synthesis, characterization and optical limiting effect of nickel complexes of multi-sulfur 1,2-dithiolene

Three nickel complexes with a new multi-sulfur 1,2-dithiolene ligand, (n-Bu₄N)[Ni(cddt)₂] 1, (Ph₄P)[Ni(cddt)₂] 2 and [Ni(cddt)₂] 3 (cddt=4a, 6, 7, 7a-5H-cyclopenta[b]-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate), have been synthesized and characterized by electrochemical measurements, IR, EPR and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of complex 2 is determined. Their optical nonlinearities are measured by the Z-scan technique with an 8 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm and all exhibit NLO absorptive abilities. Complexes 1 and 2 both exhibit effective self-defocusing performance (n₂=−5.81×10⁻¹⁰ esu for 1 and −4.51×10⁻¹⁰ esu for 2). The optical limiting (OL) effects were observed with nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses. The OL capability of complex 3 is superior to C₆₀ at the same experimental condition in ns measurements.     

Synthesis,structures and near-infrared luminescence properties of Ho and Yb coordination complexes

Four Ln³⁺ coordination complexes with the formulas [Ln(p-toluylate)₂(Ac)(H₂O)]_n (Ln=Ho 1, Yb 2) and {[Ln₂(OOCCH₂CH₂COO)₃(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O}_n (Ln=Ho 3, Yb 4) were synthesized hydrothermally. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphic and form infinite 2D network structures comprising p-toluylate and acetate (Ac^–) moieties. Complexes 3 and 4 are also isomorphic and possess infinite 2D structures in which succinate acts as bridging ligands that are connected to a 3D hydrogen bonding network by O–H…O hydrogen bonds. Solid-state IR and UV-Vis-NIR spectra, excitation and emission spectra were determined for the four complexes at room temperature. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit characteristic NIR emission bands of Ln³⁺ ions but these are shifted and split relative to the theoretical positions. This is also evident for their UV-Vis-NIR spectra. The influence of ligands on enhancing the NIR luminescence of Ln³⁺ ions in complexes is discussed.     

Nonlinear optical absorption and fluorescence of phosphine-substituted bithiophenes in the violet-blue spectral region

The nonlinear optical absorptions of two 5,5′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2′-bithiophene derivatives, Ph₂(X)P(C₄H₂S)₂P(X)Ph₂ (X = O, 1; S, 2), have been investigated by direct transmission measurement with both picosecond and nanosecond laser pulses from 420 nm to 480 nm. Saturated dichloromethane solutions of 1 and 2 exhibit strong nonlinear optical absorptions in this violet-blue spectral region with that of 2 being stronger at all wavelengths. In the picosecond regime, at 420 nm, the transmittance rapidly falls to 50% when the incident fluence is 0.22 J/cm² for 1 and 0.11 J/cm² for 2. Two-photon absorption appears to be the primary mechanism for this nonlinear absorption. The two-photon absorption coefficients β for 1 (2.1 cm/GW) and 2 (4.4 cm/GM) were obtained by fitting the measurement of transmittance as the function of incident beam intensity at 420 nm. These β values are comparable with some of the best results obtained for organic materials in the green, red and infrared spectral region. Both compounds also show fluorescence with an emission peak at 390 nm for 1 and 400 nm for 2. The fluorescence of 1 is considerably stronger than is that of 2. The combination of the wide band gap and strong fluorescence emission of 1 makes it a promising candidate as a host material for blue organic light emitting diodes.     

Second-order optical nonlinearities from χ gratings induced by holographic all-optical poling

The paper presents the second-order optical nonlinearities from χ⁽²⁾ gratings induced by holographic all-optical poling for azobenzene polymer. Second harmonic (SH) signal along the directions with two different vectors was measured. One is strong SH signal diffracted in the same direction as 2ω writing beam with wave vector k_2ω and the other is weak SH signal diffracted in the direction of wave vector of 4k_ω - k_2ω + Δk where k_ω is wave vector of ω beam and Δk is the wave vector mismatch whose vector is parallel to k_ω. The latter signal was used as a tool to monitor the formation of holographic χ⁽²⁾ gratings in real-time because it has off-axis wave vector different from both k_ω and k_2ω. The increase of 2ω intensity on poling process led to the large increase of second-order optical nonlinearity. The real-time monitoring showed that it also gave the large relaxation of second-order optical nonlinearity on poling process. The increase of 2ω (532 nm) energy enhanced the increase of local heating, which led to easier alignment of azobenzene chromophore and also larger relaxation of aligned chromophore.     

High-spin metal-cyanide clusters: species incorporating [Mn(salen)] complexes as a source of anisotropy

The use of N,N′-ethylenebis(salycylideneiminato) (salen) complexes of Mn^III in assembling high-spin metal-cyanide coordination clusters with significant magnetic anisotropy is demonstrated. The reaction of [Mn(salen)(H₂O)₂]⁺with [Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ in aqueous solution generates {Cr[CNMn(salen)(H₂O)]₆}[Cr(CN)₆]·6H₂O (1), a previously reported compound featuring a heptanuclear cluster with a distorted octahedral geometry. A fit to the variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data for 1 revealed the presence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling of within the cluster, giving rise to an S=21/2 ground state. In addition, variable-field magnetization data collected at low temperatures revealed the presence of magnetic anisotropy in the ground state, with the best fit yielding zero-field splitting parameters of D=+0.19 cm⁻¹ and A reaction intended to produce a direct analogue of 1 by employing [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ in place of [Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ instead gave an unusually complex compound of formula {Fe(CN)₄[CNMn(salen)(MeOH)]₂}{[Mn(salen)(H₂O)]₂}[Mn(salen)(H₂O)(MeOH)]₂[Fe(CN)₆]·4H₂O (2). The crystal structure and magnetic properties of this compound are reported.     

Sonochemical syntheses of a nano-sized copper(II) supramolecule as a precursor for the synthesis of copper(II) oxide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of a three-dimensional supramolecular, [Cu(L)₂(H₂O)₂] (1), (L⁻ = 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate), have been synthesized by a sonochemical process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The thermal stability of compound 1 both its bulk and nano-size has been studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA) and compared each other. Concentration of initial reagents effects on size and morphology of nano-structured compound 1, have been studied. Calcination of the nano-sized compound 1 at 600 °C under air atmosphere yields CuO nanoparticles.     

Luminescence and crystal-field fitting of two optical isomeric complexes of europium

FT-IR and Raman vibrational spectra and electronic emission spectra have been recorded for enantiomers of europium complexes with DBM: dibenzoylmethanate 1,2, and TTFA: 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate 3,4, employing the chiral ligands L_SS(+)- and L_RR(-)-4,5-pinene bipyridine. Contrary to the previously published X-ray data, where geometrical differences were stated to occur for particular enantiomers, the vibrational (and the emission) spectra of the individual optical isomers of a complex are not distinguishable. Using excitation into the Eu³⁺⁵D₂ multiplet term, the emission intensity is weak from ⁵D₁, whereas a complex structure is observed for the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J transitions. Features in the vibronic sidebands exhibit similar derived vibrational energies to those observed in the Raman spectra. Fittings of 25 4f⁶ crystal-field energy levels of 2 and 4 have been attempted with some approximations concerning the local Eu³⁺ environments. The ⁵D₀ emission lifetimes are monoexponential and are 0.5 (1,2) and 0.9 ms (3,4) at room temperature.     

Energy, momentum, and force in classical electrodynamics: Application to negative-index media

The classical theory of electromagnetism is based on Maxwell's macroscopic equations, an energy postulate, a momentum postulate, and a generalized form of the Lorentz law of force. These seven postulates constitute the foundation of a complete and consistent theory, thus eliminating the need for physical models of polarization P and magnetization M — these being the distinguishing features of Maxwell's macroscopic equations. In the proposed formulation, P(r, t) and M(r, t) are arbitrary functions of space and time, their physical properties being embedded in the seven postulates of the theory. The postulates are self-consistent, comply with special relativity, and satisfy the laws of conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum. The Abraham momentum density p_EM(r,t) = E(r,t) × H(r,t) / c² emerges as the universal electromagnetic momentum that does not depend on whether the field is propagating or evanescent, and whether or not the host media are homogeneous, transparent, isotropic, linear, dispersive, magnetic, hysteretic, negative-index, etc. Any variation with time of the total electromagnetic momentum of a closed system results in a force exerted on the material media within the system in accordance with the generalized Lorentz law.     

Whence the Minkowski momentum?

Electromagnetic waves carry the Abraham momentum, whose density is given by p_EM = S(r,t) / c². Here S(r,t) = E(r,t) × H(r,t) is the Poynting vector at point r in space and instant t in time, E and H are the local electromagnetic fields, and c is the speed of light in vacuum. The above statement is true irrespective of whether the waves reside in vacuum or within a ponderable medium, which medium may or may not be homogeneous, isotropic, transparent, linear, magnetic, etc. When a light pulse enters an absorbing medium, the force experienced by the medium is only partly due to the absorbed Abraham momentum. This absorbed momentum, of course, is manifested as Lorentz force (while the pulse is being extinguished within the absorber), but not all the Lorentz force experienced by the medium is attributable to the absorbed Abraham momentum. We consider an absorptive/reflective medium having the complex refractive index n₂ + iκ₂, submerged in a transparent dielectric of refractive index n₁, through which light must travel to reach the absorber/reflector. Depending on the impedance-mismatch between the two media, which mismatch is dependent on n₁, n₂, κ₂, either more or less light will be coupled into the absorber/reflector. The dependence of this impedance-mismatch on n₁ is entirely responsible for the appearance of the Minkowski momentum in certain radiation pressure experiments that involve submerged objects.     

Syntheses of two new hybrid metal-organic polymers using flexible aliphatic dicarboxylates and pyrazine: Crystal structures and magnetic studies

The reaction of metal ions, flexible aliphatic dicarboxylates and pyrazine in aqueous solution afford two new metal-organic coordination polymers, {[Cu₂(μ₂-η²-O₂C(CH₂)₂CO₂-η²-μ₂)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n (1) and [Eu₂(μ₂-η²-O₂CCH₂CO₂-η¹-μ₁)₂(μ₂-η²-O₂CCH₂CO₂-η²-μ₂)(H₂O)₆]_n (2). Polymer 1 contains the paddle-wheel cage dicopper(II) units, forming a one-dimensional (1D) double-stranded chain structure along the a-axis, in which the copper(II) atoms are bridged by the carboxylate groups of four succinates. The intradimer Cu-Cu distance is 2.613(2) Å; the interdimer Cu?Cu distance is 6.473 Å. To our knowledge, compound 1 represents the first example of a double-stranded chain structure containing dinuclear paddle-wheel type cage. In the three-dimensional (3D) compound 2, each central Eu(III) ion have a distorted monocapped square antiprism coordination geometry. The structure is built up from two types of polymeric chains with [EuO₆(H₂O)₃]_n units as tethers, resulting in microporous framework. The magnetic behavior of 1 shows that the occurrence of a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions through the short bridges via the carboxyl groups can be obtained; the best fittings to the experimental magnetic susceptibilities gave −2J=314 cm⁻¹.     

Syntheses, structures, fluorescence and thermal properties of three lanthanide coordination polymers built by N-benzoyl-N′-(4-benzoxy)thiourea

Three novel lanthanide 1-D chain coordination polymers, namely {[Tb(μ₂-L)₂(η²-NO₃)(CH₃OH)(H₂O)]·0.5CH₃OH·0.5H₂O}_n (1), {[Dy(μ₂-L)₂(η²-NO₃)(CH₃OH)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n (2) and {[Ce(μ₂-L)₂(η²-NO₃)(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n (3) (HL=N-benzoyl-N′-(4-benzoxy)thiourea), have been prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The luminescence properties and themostabilities of polymers 1-3 have been determined as well.     

Sensitized luminescence of Eu and Tb macrocyclic complexes bearing benzophenone antennae

Sensitized luminescence behavior of lanthanide (Ln=Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) macrocyclic cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) complexes bearing one or four benzophenone (BP) moieties as antenna (LnL1 and LnL4) has been studied in water. Despite higher molar extinction coefficient of EuL4 owing to four antennae, it shows only one-thirtieth the luminescence intensity of EuL1. Energy level of triplet excited-state of BP antenna (E_T) is only a few kJ mol⁻¹ higher than that of ⁵D₂ excited-state of Eu³⁺, thus promoting a back energy transfer (BET) from ⁵D₂ of Eu³⁺ to ground-state BP antennae. On EuL4 bearing four antennae, BET occurs more rapidly than that on EuL1, thus exhibiting much weaker luminescence. For Tb complexes, the energy gap between E_T of BP antenna and ⁵D₄ excited state of Tb³⁺ is large enough (>13 kJ mol⁻¹), such that practically no BET occurs. The luminescence intensity of TbL4 is, however, lower (two-third) than that of TbL1. Time-resolved luminescence measurement reveals that hydration number of Tb³⁺ within TbL4 is twice that within TbL1. This is because the structural distortion of ligands on TbL4, caused by an intramolecular dipole-dipole interaction among the BP antennae, allows coordination of higher number of H₂O molecules to Tb³⁺, thus leading to a strong Tb luminescence quenching via O-H oscillators.     

A theoretical and numerical consideration of the longitudinal and transverse relaxations in the rotating frame

We previously derived a simple equation for solving time-dependent Bloch equations by a matrix operation. The purpose of this study was to present a theoretical and numerical consideration of the longitudinal (R_1ρ = 1/T_1ρ) and transverse relaxation rates in the rotating frame (R_2ρ = 1/T_2ρ), based on this method. First, we derived an equation describing the time evolution of the magnetization vector (M(t)) by expanding the matrix exponential into the eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenvectors using diagonalization. Second, we obtained the longitudinal magnetization vector in the rotating frame (M_1ρ(t)) by taking the inner product of M(t) and the eigenvector with the smallest eigenvalue in modulus, and then we obtained the transverse magnetization vector in the rotating frame (M_2ρ(t)) by subtracting M_1ρ(t) from M(t). For comparison, we also computed the spin-locked magnetization vector. We derived the exact solutions for R_1ρ and R_2ρ from the eigenvalues, and compared them with those obtained numerically from M_1ρ(t) and M_2ρ(t), respectively. There was excellent agreement between them. From the exact solutions for R_1ρ and R_2ρ, R_2ρ was found to be given by R_2ρ = (2R₂ + R₁)/2 − R_1ρ/2, where R₁ and R₂ denote the conventional longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates, respectively. We also derived M_1ρ(t) and M_2ρ(t) for bulk water protons, in which the effect of chemical exchange was taken into account using a 2-pool chemical exchange model, and we compared the R_1ρ and R_2ρ values obtained from the eigenvalues and those obtained numerically from M_1ρ(t) and M_2ρ(t). There was also excellent agreement between them. In conclusion, this study will be useful for better understanding of the longitudinal and transverse relaxations in the rotating frame and for analyzing the contrast mechanisms in T_1ρ- and T_2ρ-weighted MRI.     

Optical oxygen sensing materials based on trinuclear starburst ruthenium(II) complexes assembled in mesoporous silica

The preparation and oxygen sensing properties of optical materials based on two trinuclear starburst ruthenium(II) complexes: [Ru₃(bpy)₆(TMMB)]⁶⁺ (1) and [Ru₃(phen)₆(TMMB)]⁶⁺ (2) (bpy=2,2′-bpyridine, phen=1,10-phenathroline, TMMB=1,3,5-tris[2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazoyl]methylbenzene) assembled in two mesoporous silicate (MS) are described in this paper. The luminescence of Ru complexes/silicate assemble materials can be quenched by molecular oxygen with good sensitivity (I₀/I₁>5 for 2/MS and I₀/I₁>3 for 1/MS), indicating that trinuclear starburst Ru(II) complexes/MS systems are sensitive to oxygen molecules.