Density functional theory investigation of Eu(III) complexes with beta-diketonates and phosphine oxides: model complexes of fluorescence compounds for ultraviolet LED devices

The density functional theory was employed to investigate Eu(III) complexes with three beta-diketonates and two phosphine oxides (complex M1: Eu(bdk)3(TPPO)2, complex M2: Eu(bdk)3(TMPO)2, and complex M3: Eu(bdk)3(TPPO)(TMPO)) deemed to be the model complexes of the fluorescence compounds for the ultraviolet LED devices we have recently developed. For each complex, two minimum energy points corresponding to two different optimized geometries (structures A and B) have been found, and the difference of the energy between two minimum energy points is found to be quite small (less than 1 kcal/mol). Vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths for each complex at two optimized geometries have been obtained by the time-dependent density functional theory, and the character of the excited states has been investigated. For complex M3, the absorption edge is red-shifted, and the oscillator strengths are relatively large. The efficiency of intersystem crossing and energy transfer from the triplet excited state to the Eu(III) ion is considered by calculating DeltaE(ISC) (the energy difference between the first singlet excited state and the first triplet excited state) and DeltaE(ET) (the difference between the excitation energy of the complex for the first triplet excited state and the emission energy of the Eu(III) ion for 5D to 7F).     

Aryl-bridged 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one: sensitizer ligands for Eu(III)

The synthesis, crystal structure, solution stability, and photophysical properties of an aryl group bridging two 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one units complexed to Eu(III) are reported. The results show that this backbone unit increases the rigidity of the ensuing complex, and also the conjugation of the ligand. As a result of the latter, the singlet absorption energy is decreased, along with the energy of the lowest excited triplet state. The resulting efficiency of sensitization for the Eu(III) ion is influenced by these phenomena, yielding an overall quantum yield of 6.2% in aqueous solution. The kinetic parameters arising from the luminescence data reveal an enhanced nonradiative decay rate for this compound when compared to previously reported aliphatic bridges.     

Sensitization of lanthanides by nonnatural amino acids

The sensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) by ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA)-derivatized tryptophan (Trp), 7-azatryptophan (7AW) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HW) has been examined. These Trp analogs were utilized in the present study because they can be incorporated into proteins in place of native Trp residues and because they absorb strongly beyond 305 nm (where Trp absorbance goes to zero), allowing selective excitation of such species in the presence of other Trp-containing proteins. All three indole derivatives were able to sensitize Tb(III) luminescence, with the relative sensitization being in the order Trp > 5HW > 7AW. On the other hand, only the 7AW-EDTA complex was able to sensitize Eu(III) luminescence, likely owing to a better spectral overlap between 7AW emission and Eu(III) absorbance. The sensitized emission of Tb(III) and Eu(II) displayed the expected long emission lifetimes at 545 nm [for Tb(III)] and 617 nm [for Eu(III)], indicating that long-lifetime lanthanide emission could be produced using nonnatural amino-acid donors. Thus, 7AW- and 5HW-sensitized lanthanide emissions should prove to be useful in biophysical studies, such as the use of fluorescence energy transfer to probe biomolecular interactions in vivo.     

The synthesis, photoluminescence and energy transfer mechanism of a reactive Eu(III)-complex intermediate of white light phosphor

A reactive Eu(III)-complex intermediate of white light phosphor was synthesized using benzoylactone, 1,10-phenanthroline and undecylenic acid as ligands. The structure of the complex was characterized by elemental analysis and FT-IR spectra. The luminescent properties were investigated by fluorescence spectra and UV?Cvis absorption spectra. The results indicate that the complex emitted the characteristic peaks of the Eu(III) ion when being excited at 367?nm, revealing that the complex can be excited by 365?nm of ultraviolet. The energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital as well as the singlet state and triplet state energy level of the ligands were calculated with the Gaussian03 program package. Intramolecular energy transfer mechanism was studied and an energy transfer diagram was sketched to illuminate the energy transfer process. The Eu(III)-copolymer was synthesized by the free radical copolymerization of the Eu(III)-complex and methyl methacrylate. XRD analysis indicates that the Eu(III)-complex in the copolymer was dispersed much more uniformly into the polymer matrix than that in the doped polymer. The photoluminescent properties of the Eu(III)-polymer suggest that the Eu(III)-complex is a good candidate of red light moiety in white light phosphor.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and luminescent properties of novel Eu3+ heterocyclic beta-diketonate complexes with bidentate nitrogen donors

New tris(heterocyclic beta-diketonato)europium(III) complexes of the general formula Eu(PBI)3.L [where HPBI = 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone and L = H2O, 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), or 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bath)] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for the complexes Eu(PBI)3.H2O.EtOH and Eu(PBI)3.phen. The complex Eu(PBI)3.H2O.EtOH is mononuclear, and the central Eu3+ ion is coordinated by eight oxygen atoms to form a bicapped trigonal prism coordination polyhedron. Six oxygens are from the three bidentate HPBI ligands, one is from a water molecule, and another is from an ethanol molecule. On the other hand, the crystal structure of Eu(PBI)3.phen reveals a distorted square antiprismatic geometry around the europium atom. The room-temperature PL spectra of the europium(III) complexes are composed of the typical Eu3+ red emission, assigned to transitions between the first excited state (5D0) and the multiplet (7F0-4). The results demonstrate that the substitution of solvent molecules by bidentate nitrogen ligands in Eu(PBI)3.H2O.EtOH richly enhances the quantum yield and lifetime values. To elucidate the energy transfer process of the europium complexes, the energy levels of the relevant electronic states have been estimated. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Omega2 and Omega4) were determined from the emission spectra for Eu3+ ion based on the 5D0 --> 7F2 and 5D0 --> 7F4 electronic transitions, respectively, and the 5D0 --> 7F1 magnetic dipole allowed transition was taken as the reference. The high values obtained for the 4f-4f intensity parameter Omega2 for europium complexes suggest that the dynamic coupling mechanism is quite operative in these compounds.     

Sensitized emission of luminescent lanthanide complexes based on 4-naphthalen-1-yl-benzoic acid derivatives by a charge-transfer process.

The photophysical properties of 4-naphthalen-1-yl-benzoic acid ligands and their Eu(III)-cored complexes were systematically investigated to elucidate the effective energy-transfer pathway in luminescent lanthanide complexes. A series of 4-naphthalen-1-yl-benzoic acid ligands, such as 4-naphthalen-1-yl-benzoic acid (NA-1), 4-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-naphthalen-1-yl]-benzoic acid (NA-2), and 4-{4-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-naphthalen-1-yl]-benzyloxy}-benzoic acid (NA-3), were synthesized and utilized for the synthesis of their Eu(III)-cored complexes, corresponding to NAC-1, NAC-2, and NAC-3. The fluorescence spectra of NA-1 and NA-2 show large Stokes shifts with increasing solvent polarity. These large Stokes shifts might be dominantly due to the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) complex in the excited state. Also, the intensive luminescence of the Eu(III) ions by the photoexcitation of the ligand in NAC-1 and NAC-2 in polar solvents supports that the energy transfer from the ligand to the Eu(III) ion takes place efficiently. In the case of NA-3, which has a -CH2OPh- group that acts as a blocking group, there is no dependence of the fluorescence spectrum on the solvent nature and no luminescence of the Eu(III) ions by the photoexcitation of the ligand, indicating no formation of the ICT state. This can be due to the fact that the formation of the ICT state in NA-3 was prevented because the -OCH2- group acts as a blocking group by interrupting the pi-conjugation between the benzoic acid and the naphthalene unit. From these photophysical studies, we suggest that the ICT state plays a very important role in the energy-transfer pathway from the ligand to the Eu(III) ion. To our best knowledge, this is the first demonstration of sensitized emission of luminescent lanthanide complexes based on 4-naphthalen-1-yl-benzoic acid derivatives by the charge-transfer process.     

Eu(III)-modified properties of thermosensitive core–shell microspheres

We successfully prepared PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAM-co-St) (PNNS) core–shell microsphere by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method. When PNNS with a core–shell structure is interacted with Eu(III), Eu(III) mainly bonds to oxygen of the carbonyl groups of PNNS, forming the novel PNNS-Eu(III) complex. It was found that the complex showed thermosensitive and fluorescent properties at one time. Especially, the maximum emission intensity of Eu(III) in the complex at 614 nm is significantly enhanced in comparison with that of pure Eu(III), demonstrating that there exists an efficient intermolecular energy transfer from the polymer ligand to Eu(III) and then the excited Eu(III) generates the enhanced fluorescence. When the weight ratio of Eu(III) and the PNNS is 8 wt%, the enhancement of the emission fluorescence intensity at 614 nm is highest.     

Metallophilic interactions in closed-shell d10 metal-metal dicyanide bonded luminescent systems Eu[Ag(x)Au(1-x)(CN)2]3 and their tunability for excited state energy transfer

We report on the heterobimetallic system, Eu[Ag(x)Au(1-x)(CN)(2)](3) (x = 0-1) in which sensitization of europium luminescence occurs by energy transfer from [Ag(x)Au(1-x)(CN)(2)](-) donor excited states. The donor states have energies which are tunable and dependent on the Ag/Au stoichiometric ratio. These layered systems exhibit interesting properties, one of which is their emission energy tunability when excited at different excitation wavelengths. In this paper, we report on their use as donor systems with Eu(III) ions as acceptor ions in energy transfer studies. Luminescence results show that the mixed metal dicyanides with the higher silver loading have a better energy transfer efficiency than the pure Ag(CN)(2)(-) and Au(CN)(2)(-) donors. The better energy transfer efficiency is due to the greater overlap between the donor emission and acceptor excitation. Additionally, more acceptor states are available in the high silver loading mixed metal Eu(III) complexes. The results from a crystal structure determination and Raman experiments are also presented in this paper and provide information about metallophilic interactions in the closed-shell d(10) metal-metal [Ag(x)Au(1-x)(CN(2)](-) dicyanide clusters.     

Photophysical behavior of terpyridine-lanthanide ion complexes incorporated in a poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) hydrogel

Poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) hydrogel forms complexes with terpyridine and various trivalent ions, like Eu(3+), Tb(3+), Gd(3+), and In(3+). The hydrogel can be obtained in three different phases: swollen with water, lyophilized (i.e., dried by freeze-drying), where it loses the solvent but preserves the swollen configuration, and dried in the air where it shrinks. The three hydrogel phases affect the type of complex formed between terpyridine and the metal ion. Thus, in the swollen and lyophilized phases, metal-centered emission can be obtained by energy transfer from the excited ligand. In the shrunk phase, an intense green fluorescence is emitted, which is ligand-centered and is independent of the complexed ion. In the absence of any ion, the ligand emits blue luminescence, independently of the hydrogel phase. In the presence of europium(III) ions, blue, green, or red emission can be thus produced at appropriate compositions and hydrogel phases. Analysis of the photophysical behavior of the polymer-ligand-metal ion complex is related with the photophysical behavior of the ligand and its complexes in various pure solvents.     

Application of chelate phosphine oxide ligand in EuIII complex with mezzo triplet energy level, highly efficient photoluminescent, and electroluminescent performances

The chelate phosphine oxide ligand bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether oxide (DPEPO) was used as a unit neutral ligand to prepare the complex Eu(TTA)(3)(DPEPO) 1 (TTA = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate). Compound 1 has a photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 55.3%, which is more than the twice of the PL quantum yield of Eu(TTA)(3)(TPPO)(2) (TPPO = triphenylphosphine oxide). Investigation indicated that DPEPO in 1 has the mezzo first triplet excited energy level (T(1)) between the first singlet excited energy level (S(1)) and T(1) of TTA, which may support one more additional energy transfer routines from the T(1) energy level of DPEPO to that of TTA, and consequently results in the improvement of energy transfer in the Eu(III) complex. DPEPO forms a complex with a more rigid and compact structure that can improve energy transfer between ligands and the center Eu(III) ion, support the higher saturation level by the coordinating ability of the oxygen atom in the ether moiety, and consequently enhance the PL intensity and efficiency of the corresponding Eu(III) complex. The multilayered electroluminescent (EL) device of 1 used as the red dopant exhibited an impressive brightness of 632 cd m(-2) at 25 V. The device had the excellent voltage-independent spectral stability with an emission peak at 615 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this luminescence is the brightest emission among Eu complexes with phosphine oxide ligands. The maximum external quantum yield (eta(ext)) of 2.89% and the maximum current and power efficiency of 4.58 cd A(-1) and 2.05 lm W(-1) were achieved at a low turn-on voltage of 7 V and current density of 0.021 mA cm(-2). These properties demonstrate that the chelate phosphine oxides ligand DPEPO can not only be favorable to form the rigid and compact complex structure and increase the efficiency of devices, but also reduce the ability of the formation of exciplex. DPEPO shows much better performance compared with the ordinary phosphine oxide ligand triphenylphosphine oxide.     

Aromatic polyaminocarboxylate ligands for energy transfer luminescence measurements of lanthanide ions in aqueous solutions

The promising ligand candidates for the energy transfer luminescence measurements of lanthanide (Ln) chelates on aqueous matrices are first proposed. The ligands are; 2[(2-amino-5-methyl-phenoxy)methyl]-6-methoxy-8-aminoquinoline-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (Quin 2), 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (BAPTA), and 1,2-bis(2-amino-5-fluoro-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (F-BAPTA). The Ln-chelates of these aromatic polyaminocarboxylates show the sensitized emission which results from efficient ligand-centered light absorption, and the interesting selectivity is seen; BAPTA and F-BAPTA form the luminescent chelates only with Tb(III) and Dy(III) ions, whereas the emission from Sm(III) and Eu(III) ions is greatly sensitized with Quin 2. The sufficient emission intensity can be obtained even in slightly alkaline aqueous solutions without any addition of surfactants or organic solvents. These octadentate ligands are fairly capable of shielding central Ln ions from quenching by surrounding water molecules. The luminescence enhancement factors are 1600 for Tb(III) ion with BAPTA (em.544 nm) and 1380 for Eu(III) ion with Quin 2 (em. 615 nm), respectively, being relative to their aqueous chloride solutions.     

冠醚取代蒽醌超分子体系的设计与合成及分子内能量转移的研究

大环冠醚由于其自组装性能及分子识别能力而引起人们广泛的重视.近来,冠醚又成为在超分子体系中用于建构主体分子的一种重要的建造单元^[1~4].Costa^[5]等曾报道苯并冠醚与被识别的稀土离子铕(Ⅲ)与铽(Ⅲ)之间的能量传递过程,选择性激发冠醚主体观察到稀土离子的发光.由于二氮杂冠醚与稀土离子能形成更稳定的配合物^[6].我们利用了冠醚分子的分子识别能力及蒽醌分子的光敏性,设计合成了一种新的氮杂冠醚取代蒽醌分子(图1)(以下文中用代号AQ-CW表示),并以该分子作为主体分子,以稀土离子作为客体构成超分子体系,研究超分子体系内的能量转移过程.     

Photophysical properties and energy transfer pathway of Er(III) complexes with Pt-porphyrin and terpyridine ligands

The photophysical properties of Er(III) complexes coordinated with platinum[5,10,15-triphenyl-20-(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin] (PtP) and terpyridine (tpy) ligands in organic solution were investigated. The Er(III) complex emitted sensitized near-IR (NIR) luminescence when the PtP ligands were excited under deoxygenated conditions. The quantum yield (PhiLn) of the sensitized luminescence was 0.015%, as evaluated from luminescence lifetime. The photophysical studies and theoretical calculations suggest that the F?rster resonance mechanism is very suitable for the energy transfer from PtP to the Er(III) ion and occurred through the first triplet excited state of PtP. The 12.3% energy transfer from the triplet state to the 4F9/2 and 4I9/2 states of Er(III) occurred with a rate distribution of 3.36x10(5) and 6.67x10(4) s(-1), respectively. In addition, the observed triplet quantum yield of the PtP ligand in [Ln(PtP)3(tpy)] proved that the energy transfer from the singlet excited state of the PtP ligand to the Er(III) ion did not take place.     

Density functional theory investigation of novel Eu(III) complexes with asymmetric bis(phosphine) oxides

Recently, we have developed novel Eu(III) complexes with three beta-diketonates and one asymmetric bis(phosphine) oxide whose light emission intensity is drastically increased. In this paper, one of these complexes is investigated by the density functional theory calculation. Sixteen isomers of this complex have been considered. The ratio of the existence for the most stable isomer (B1_1a) is found to be about 51%, and the sum of the ratio of the existence for the six most stable isomers (B1_1a, B1_3a, B1_8a, B1_2a, B1_1b, and B1_5a) is about 100%, assuming the Boltzmann distribution (T = 300 K). The coordination structures of the six most stable isomers in the ground states are similar, and we can expect asymmetric ligand fields for them, favorable for the efficient light emission. Vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths for each isomer have been obtained by the time-dependent density functional theory. With the red-shift of the wavelength and the interpolation by Gaussian convolution, both the calculated absorption spectra for the most stable isomer B1_1a and the calculated absorption spectra for the ensemble average of the isomers are found to be similar to the experimental fluorescence excitation spectra. The efficiency of energy transfer from the triplet excited state to the Eu(III) ion is considered by calculating DeltaEET (difference between the adiabatic excitation energy of the complex for the lowest triplet state and the emission energy of the Eu(III) ion for 5D0 to 7F2). The characters for the lowest triplet states for the isomers are investigated by the spin density distributions of the triplet states.     

Spectrophotometry and Luminescence Spectroscopy of Acetohydroxamate Complexes of Trivalent Lanthanide and Actinide Ions

The complexation chemistries of acetohydroxamic acid (HA) with the trivalent Eu, Tb and Cm ions have been probed by combinations of Optical Absorbance Spectroscopy (OAS), Time Resolved Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLIFS) and emission spectroscopy, with some rather unexpected trends being observed. The formation of four complexed species was established for all three metal cations by OAS. The magnitudes of the formation constants of the respective M(A) _n ³⁻ⁿ complexes suggested a much stronger binding efficiency of HA for the first two complexation steps than the third and fourth steps. Tb(III) and Eu(III) TRLIFS data both suggested a final octadentate tetrakis-hydroxamato complex in which the metal ion is close to being fully dehydrated. Step-wise dehydration of Tb(III) by successive ligands did not appear to proceed as expected for a bidentate ligand. Of the EuA _n complexes, only the tetrakis species was found to luminesce, with HA causing an unusually strong quenching effect for all other Eu species. Cm(III) complexation appeared similar to the lanthanide analogs.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE AND FLUORESCENCE OF THE EUROPIUM IONS-ADENINE NUCLEOTIDES SYSTEM AND ITS POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract— Chemiluminescence of the Eu(II)/Eu(III)-adenine nucleotide-H₂O₂ system and fluorescence of the Eu(III)-adenosine triphosphate system have been investigated. The spectral distribution of the chemiluminescence emission has shown an occurrence of three main bands (Λ=470–480,590–620 and ca. 700 nm). The energy transfer process from the adenosine triphosphate molecules to the Eu(III) ions has been observed in the fluorescence spectrum. The examined chemiluminescence and fluorescence spectra show that these both kinds of emission originate from the ⁵ D _***τ⁷F_*** ( n =1–4) transitions in the Eu(III) ions.     

Modified dipicolinic acid ligands for sensitization of europium(III) luminescence

The effect of substitution at the 4 and 3,5 positions in the pyridine ring of europium(III) pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate complexes has been investigated with particular emphasis on sensitization of the Eu3+ ion. Sensitization of the Eu3+ 615-nm emission was achieved through excitation of the ligands in which the 4 substituent was -H, -OH, and -Cl and the 3,5 position was -H. In these cases, the ligand-to-Eu3+ ratio was confirmed as being 3:1. The sensitization was found to increase following substitution of the 4 position in the order Cl > H > OH. This is attributed to energy transfer occurring from the ligands into different Eu3+ intra-atomic energy levels, with spin selection rules governing the efficiency of this process. The Eu3+ luminescence lifetime was measured and found to vary from 1.16 to 2.90 ms depending on the excitation energy, ligand, and solvent. For the case of the 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy derivative, no sensitization was observed and a ligand-to-Eu3+ ratio of 1:1 was found. The solubility of these complexes in water and their long emission lifetime make them attractive for use as probes in biological systems.     

d → f energy transfer in a series of Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyads: energy-transfer mechanisms and white-light emission

An extensive series of blue-luminescent iridium(III) complexes has been prepared containing two phenylpyridine-type ligands and one ligand containing two pyrazolylpyridine units, of which one is bound to Ir(III) and the second is pendant. Attachment of {Ln(hfac)(3)} (Ln = Eu, Gd; hfac = anion of 1,1,1,5,5,5,-hexafluoropentanedione) to the second coordination site affords Ir(III)/Ln(III) dyads. Crystallographic analysis of several mononuclear iridium(III) complexes and one Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyad reveals that in most cases the complexes can adopt a folded conformation involving aromatic π stacking between a phenylpyridine ligand and the bis(pyrazolylpyridine) ligand, but in one series, based on CF(3)-substituted phenylpyridine ligands coordinated to Ir(III), the steric bulk of the CF(3) group prevents this and a quite different and more open conformation arises. Quantum mechanical calculations well reproduce these two types of "folded" and "open" conformations. In the Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyads, Ir → Eu energy transfer occurs with varying degrees of efficiency, resulting in partial quenching of the Ir(III)-based blue emission and the appearance of a sensitized red emission from Eu(III). Calculations based on consideration of spectroscopic overlap integrals rule out any significant contribution from F?rster (dipole-dipole) energy transfer over the distances involved but indicate that Dexter-type (exchange) energy transfer is possible if there is a small electronic coupling that would arise, in part, through π stacking between components. In some cases, an initial photoinduced electron-transfer step could also contribute to Ir → Eu energy transfer, as shown by studies on isostructural iridium/gadolinium model complexes. A balance between the blue (Ir-based) and red (Eu-based) emission components can generate white light.     

Luminescence of Tb3+ and Eu3+ doped amorphous zinc benzoates

The Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) doped amorphous zinc benzoate were prepared. Their infrared absorption, emission and excitation spectra were measured. The luminescence mechanisms of Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) in the amorphous substrate were discussed. The bonding modes of OCO group to Zn(2+) ion have two of symmetric and asymmetric bridging bidentate. The energy of the S(1) pi,pi* excited state of benzene ring can be transferred to Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) ion, and results in characteristic emission from the 5D(4)-->(7)F(j) of Tb(3+) and 5D(0)-->(7)F(j) of Eu(3+), respectively.