Morphology control and luminescence properties of BaMgAl10O17:Eu phosphors prepared by spray pyrolysis

Starting from the aqueous solutions of metal nitrates with citric acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as additives, BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM:Eu²⁺) phosphors were prepared by a two-step spray pyrolysis (SP) method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the resulted BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphors. The obtained BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor particles have spherical shape, submicron size (0.5-3 μm). The effects of process conditions of the spray pyrolysis, such as molecular weight and concentration of PEG, on the morphology and luminescence properties of phosphor particles were investigated. Adequate amount of PEG was necessary for obtaining spherical particles, and the optimum emission intensity could be obtained when the concentration of PEG was 0.03 g/ml in the precursor solution. Moreover, the emission intensity of the phosphors increased with increasing of metal ion concentration in the solution. Compared with the BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor prepared by citrate-gel method, spherical BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor particles showed a higher emission intensity.     

Fluorescent and photochemical properties of TbIII complexes with acrylic acid-based macromolecular ligands

The fluorescent and photochemical properties of Tb^III complexes with macromolecular ligands based on acrylic acid were studied. The photochemical behavior of the macromolecular Th^II complexes with acrylic acid-alkyl methacrylate copolymers differs considerably from those of Tb^III complexes with polyacrylic acid and of low-molecular-weight analogs; in the former case, the intensity of Tb³⁺ photoluminescence noticeably increases during photolysis rather than decreases. It was found that the increase in the length of the alkyl group in the alkyl methacrylate favors the enhancement of the luminescence during the photolysis. The higher efficiency of the enhancement of the Eu³⁺ fluorescence during the photolysis of similar complexes of Eu³⁺ compared to the complexers of Tb³⁺ is due to the nature of the electrodipole hypersensitive⁵D₀–⁷F₂ transition in Eu³⁺.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 2007–2010, August, 1996.     

Photochemical behavior of polymer complexes based on Eu(III) acrylato(bisdibenzoylmethanate)

The photochemical behavior of monomer and polymer complexes of Eu³⁺ that are based on dibenzoylmethane and acrylic acid has been studied. It has been shown that these complexes differ from their low-molecular-mass analogs by properties: in the course of photolysis, the intensity of luminescence of the studied Eu³⁺ complexes increases by a factor of 1.3 to 2.5. The mechanism describind the effect of the composition of polymer formulation on the rate of photodegradation is discussed.     

Luminescence Tuning and White‐Light Emission of Co‐doped Ln–Cd–Organic Frameworks

Four new three‐dimensional isostructural lanthanide–cadmium metal–organic frameworks (Ln–Cd MOFs), [LnCd₂(imdc)₂(Ac)(H₂O)₂]?H₂O (Ln=Pr ( 1 ), Eu ( 2 ), Gd ( 3 ), and Tb ( 4 ); H₃imdc=4,5‐imidazoledicarboxylic acid; Ac=acetate), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by IR, elemental analyses, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, and X‐ray diffraction. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction shows that two Ln^III ions are surrounded by four Cd^II ions to form a heteronuclear building block. The blocks are further linked to form 3D Ln–Cd MOFs by the bridging imdc^3? ligand. Furthermore, the left‐ and right‐handed helices array alternatively in the lattice. Eu–Cd and Tb–Cd MOFs can emit characteristic red light with the Eu^III ion and green light with the Tb^III ion, respectively, while both Gd–Cd and Pr–Cd MOFs generate blue emission when they are excited. Different concentrations of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions were co‐doped into Gd–Cd/Pr–Cd MOFs, and tunable luminescence from yellow to white was achieved. White‐light emission was obtained successfully by adjusting the excitation wavelength or the co‐doping ratio of the co‐doped Gd–Cd and Pr–Cd MOFs. These results show that the relative emission intensity of white light for Gd–Cd:Eu³⁺,Tb³⁺ MOFs is stronger than that of Pr–Cd:Eu³⁺,Tb³⁺ MOFs, which implies that the Gd complex is a better matrix than the Pr complex to obtain white‐light emission materials.     

Energy Transfer‐Assisted Whispering Gallery Mode Lasing in Conjugated Polymer/Europium Hybrid Microsphere Resonators

Lanthanide metal complexes display luminescence with narrow bandwidth. Here, we present coupling of the luminescence from europium ion (Eu³⁺) with whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in conjugated polymer microsphere resonators. Self‐assembly of fluorene–terpyridine alternating copolymer, coordinated by Eu³⁺ (F8tpy‐Eu³⁺), forms well‐defined microspheres with an average diameter of 3.2 μm. Upon focused laser excitation, a microsphere of F8tpy copolymer displays WGM photoluminescence (PL) at a wide spectral range from 420 to 680 nm. In contrast, F8tpy‐Eu³⁺ hybrid microspheres exhibit sharp WGM PL at a narrow spectral range of 615–630 nm, which is characteristic of luminescence from Eu³⁺. The PL behavior indicates that photoinduced energy transfer from F8tpy to Eu³⁺ occurs efficiently. Furthermore, the intensity of the PL peak increases nonlinearly upon strong pumping, indicating that a lasing action appears with the threshold of 1.85 mJ cm^?2. These results will pave the way for developing microlasers and photonic devices from soft organic materials.     

First-principle Studies on Enhanced Optical Stability of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ Phosphor by SiN Doping

Using density functional theory, we studied band structure, density of states, optical proper-ties and Mulliken population of the pure and SiN doped BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺(BAM:Eu²⁺) phosphors. Calculation results showed that the bands of BAM:Eu²⁺ were of low band en-ergy dispersion, indicating large joint density of states, hence high performance of optical absorption and luminescence. BAM:Eu²⁺ showed stronger absorption intensity while Eu²⁺ occupied the BR sites instead of the mO sites. The concentration of Eu²⁺ at BR sites increased while that at mO sites decreased after Si-N doping. The influence of the vari-ation of Eu²⁺ distribution on the spectra was stronger than the influence of the decrease of Eu²⁺ PDOS when SiN concentration was lower than 0.25, therefore the absorption andluminescence intensity of BAM:Eu²⁺ were enhanced. Mulliken population of Si-N bond was higher than Al-O bond, while that of Eu-N bond was higher than Eu-O bond as well, indicating that Si-N bonds and Eu-N bonds possessed higher covalence than Al-O bonds and Eu-N bonds respectively. The existence of Si-N bonds and Eu-N bonds enhanced the local covalence of Eu²⁺, hence the optical stability of BAM:Eu²⁺.     

Synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic studies of copolymer of styrene with 4-oxe-4(P-hydroxyl phenylamino) but-2-enoic acid and corresponding fluorescent macromolecular lanthanide(III) complexes

Copolymer of styrene with 4-oxe-4(P-hydroxyl phenylamino) but-2-enoic acid (PSHPEA) and its luminescent lanthanide complexes Ln-PSHPEA (Ln = La, Eu, Tb and Y) were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence determination. The results showed that the carboxylic groups on the chain of the copolymer acted as bidentate ligands coordinated to lanthanide ions, but the amido carbonyl groups, amino N and hydroxy groups had not taken part in coordination; the coordination degree of -COO⁻/Ln³⁺ which determined the content of metal ions in the macromolecular complexes, was closely dependent on both the pH value of the solution and the molar ratio of St to 4-oxe-4(P-hydroxyl phenylamino) but-2-enoic acid in the polymer ligand. The fluorescence determination showed that the complexes exhibited characteristic fluorescence with comparatively high brightness and good mono-chromaticity. Typical relationship between emission intensity and Ln³⁺ ions content in macromolecular complexes exhibited some extent of fluorescence concentration quenching in our studies. The emission intensity of Tb-PSHPEA complexes was much stronger than that of Eu-PSHPEA complexes, which was attributed to especial effectivity in transferring energy from the lowest triplet energy level of the ligand onto the excited state (⁵D₀) of Tb³⁺ ion than that (⁵D₄) of Eu³⁺ ion.     

Self‐organization and luminescent properties of nanostructured europium (III)–block copolymer complex thin films

We introduce a simple method to create nanosized, ordered, and highly luminescent thin film of Eu (III)–block copolymer complex. Micelles of polystyrene–block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) in P4VP‐selective solvents (ethanol/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) mixture) serve as nanoreactors for the synthesis of Eu(III)–block copolymer complex with the presence of 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen) as cooperative ligand. The resulted quaternary complexes were characterized by FT‐IR spectra, ¹⁵N NMR spectra, and elemental analysis, indicative of a composition of Eu(III)–(PS‐b‐P4VP)–Phen–5DMF. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations reveal that the Eu(III)–(PS‐b‐P4VP)–Phen–5DMF complex can self‐organize into hexagonally ordered thin films when dip‐coated from the solution onto silicon or silica glass substrates. Such ordered thin films can emit red fluorescence of Eu³⁺ with strong intensity and long lifetime. This method can be easily extended to prepare other ordered luminescent rare earth–polymer complexes thin films. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2181–2189, 2005     

Fluorescent properties of europium(III) complexes with polyacrylic acid containing graftedo-phenanthroline groups

Fluorescent properties of Eu^III complexes with polyacrylic acid containing graftedo-phenanthroline groups were studied. The presence ofo-phenanthroline groups (2%) in the macromolecular ligand provides a 2- to 3-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity as compared to that for Eu^III polyacrylates. The effect of concentration quenching of fluorescence, which is observed as the temperature decreases from 300 to 77 K, is explained by the shortening of the average Eu-Eu distances and by the increase in the efficiency of energy redistribution in the complex. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2253–2255, December, 1997.     

Preparation and Luminescence Properties of the Ternary Europium Complex Incorporated into an Inorganic/Polymer Matrix by a Sol-Gel Method

Ternary europium complexes with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) and phenanthroline (phen) were incorporated into SiO₂/polymer matrix by a sol-gel method. The gels exhibit the characteristic emission bands of europium ion. In addition, Eu³⁺ presents a longer fluorescence lifetime in gel than in the corresponding pure complex powder. Concentration effects on the luminescence intensity were investigated. The reasons that are responsible for above results are also discussed in the context.     

Fluorescence,ion binding,and viscosity properties of poly[2‐ and 4‐vinylpyridine]s in methanol and in sulfuric acid

Fluorescence intensities of poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) in H₂SO₄/H₂O solutions were increased with increasing acid concentration. The intensities for P2VP were found to be six times stronger than that of P4VP. These differences were accounted for by the microenvironment of protonated pyridinium group. The ion binding properties of 4‐methylpyridine (4MP), P2VP, and P4VP were investigated in methanol using Tb³⁺ as a fluorescence probe. The increase of fluorescence intensity of Tb³⁺ in [P2VP–Tb³⁺] and [P4VP–Tb³⁺] complexes is due to both the replacement of the inner coordinated methanol molecules and ligand‐to‐metal energy transfer. The model compound 4MP was inefficient from this point of view, and the results were attributed to the polymer cooperative effect. Reduced viscosities of poly(vinylpyridine)s (PVP) in methanol were similar to nonionic polymers; however, when TbCl₃ was added into the solution, the viscosities increased upon dilution. These results also indicated that PVP form complexes with Tb³⁺ in methanol. When diluted, the counterions Cl⁻ are allowed to dissociate and the charged polymer expands. Consequently, the solution's viscosity increases. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1341–1345, 1999     

Fluorescence Enhancement of Rare Earths by Yttrium and its Application

Abstract

A study of the enhancement effect on the fluorescence intensity of the Eu³⁺–-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)–-cetyltri–-methylammonium bromide (CTMAB) and the Dy³⁺ pyrocatechol–-3,5-disulphonic acid (Tiron) systems by Y³⁺has been carried out. In the presence of yttrium the fluorescence intensity of the systems was enhanced by a factor of about 100 and 15, respectively. The fluorescence intensity was a linear function of the concentration of europium or dysprosium in the range 1.0 × 10^?10–-1.0 × 10^?8mol dm^?3 and 8.0 × 10^?8–-9.0 × 10^?6mol dm^?3, respectively. The detection limit was 1.0 × 10^?11mol dm^?3 and 1.0 × 10^?10mol dm^?3, respectively. The standard addition method was used for the determination of europium or dysprosium in rare earth oxides and gave satisfactory results. The mechanism of enhanced fluorescence was proposed.     

Lanthanide metal polymer complexes. Synthesis,characterization and application

Our recent results on the investigation of lanthanide metal polymer complexes were presented. Luminescence properties of Tb³⁺ or Eu³⁺ -polycarboxylate complexes in aqueous solution were investigated. The excitation band near 300 nm for Tb or Eu(polyacrylate) solutions were drastically enhanced by the addition of hydroxy radical generating reagents as well as ultrasonic irradiation. These spectral changes were attributed to the energy transfer from chromophore molecules formed by generated hydroxy radicals in both systems. Since the increase in the luminescence intensity was proportional to the hydroxy radical concentration, the Eu³⁺ or Tb³⁺ (PAA) system can provide a convenient method for the determination of hydroxy radical concentration in aqueous solution. We have also utilized lanthanide metal ion complexes as a luminescent emitter in electroluminescence (EL) devices. The configuration of the EL cell and experimental results were discussed.     

Monochromatic‐red‐light emission of novel copolymers containing carbazole units and europium–acrylate complexes

Nearly monochromatic‐red‐light‐emitting polymers with pendant carbazole and europium (Eu) complex were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, elemental analysis (EA), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV, and gel permeation chromatography. The photoluminescence and electroluminescence (EL) properties of these polymers were investigated. A single‐layer light‐emitting‐diode device of the structure (indium tin oxide/polymer P4/Al) was fabricated, showing the characteristic bright‐red EL of the Eu³⁺ complex at 614 nm at a turn‐on voltage of about 17 V. The EL spectrum, current–voltage, and emission‐intensity–voltage characteristics of the device were measured. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3405–3411, 2000     

Minocycline‐Based Europium(III) Chelate Complexes: Synthesis,Luminescent Properties,and Labeling to Streptavidin

Two chelate ligands for europium(III) having minocycline (=(4S,4aS,5aR,12aS)‐4,7‐bis(dimethylamino)‐1,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a‐octahydro‐3,10,12,12a‐tetrahydroxy‐1,11‐dioxonaphthacene‐2‐carboxamide; 5 ) as a VIS‐light‐absorbing group were synthesized as possible VIS‐light‐excitable stable Eu³⁺ complexes for protein labeling. The 9‐amino derivative 7 of minocycline was treated with H₆TTHA (=triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid=3,6,9,12‐tetrakis(carboxymethyl)‐3,6,9,12‐tetraazatetradecanedioic acid) or H₅DTPA (=diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid=N,N‐bis{2‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl}glycine) to link the polycarboxylic acids to minocycline. One of the Eu³⁺ chelates, [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐TTHA)] ( 13 ), is moderately luminescent in H₂O by excitation at 395 nm, whereas [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐DTPA)] ( 9 ) was not luminescent by excitation at the same wavelength. The luminescence and the excitation spectra of [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐TTHA)] ( 13 ) showed that, different from other luminescent Eu^III chelate complexes, the emission at 615 nm is caused via direct excitation of the Eu³⁺ ion, and the chelate ligand is not involved in the excitation of Eu³⁺. However, the ligand seems to act for the prevention of quenching of the Eu³⁺ emission by H₂O. The fact that the excitation spectrum of [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐TTHA)] is almost identical with the absorption spectrum of Eu³⁺ aqua ion supports such an excitation mechanism. The high stability of the complexes of [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐DTPA)] ( 9 ) and [Eu³⁺(minocycline‐TTHA)] ( 13 ) was confirmed by UV‐absorption semi‐quantitative titrations of H₄(minocycline‐DTPA) ( 8 ) and H₅(minocycline‐TTHA) ( 12 ) with Eu³⁺. The titrations suggested also that an 1 : 1 ligand Eu³⁺ complex is formed from 12 , whereas an 1 : 2 complex was formed from 8 minocycline‐DTPA. The H₅(minocycline‐TTHA) ( 12 ) was successfully conjugated to streptavidin (SA) (Scheme 5), and thus the applicability of the corresponding Eu³⁺ complex to label a protein was established.     

Fluorescence characteristics of europium ions stabilized in solid polymer electrolytes containing polyether structure

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) oligomers can dissolve lanthanide salts. The terminal hydroxyl groups of PEO affect the solubility of the lanthanide salts in the PEO considerably. However, no intensive fluorescence was observed from Eu³⁺ dispersed in PEO or other ion-conductive polymers containing terminal hydroxyl groups, because of the quenching effect of the terminal hydroxyl groups. Copolymer of ω-methoxy oligo(oxyethylene) methacrylate and methyl methacrylate (P(MEOM-co-MMA)) could dissolve small amount of Eu(NO₃)₃, but the copolymer film containing Eu³⁺ shows intensive fluorescence (Ex = 269.0 nm, Em = 570.0 nm). This was prepared as a soft film, and there was a clear dependence of the Eu³⁺ concentration on the fluorescence intensity. A linear relation between the film thickness and the fluorescence intensity was also observed. Little fluorescence was found for Eu³⁺ in the blend of the corresponding two homopolymers, i.e. poly-(ω-methoxy oligo (oxyethylene) methacrylate) (PMEOM) and poly(α-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This strongly suggests that intensive fluorescence requires a mixed state of MEOM and MMA units at molecular level.     

DNA binding and antibacterial properties of ternary lanthanide complexes with salicylic acid and phenanthroline

Twelve ternary lanthanide complexes RE(sal)₃phen (RE³⁺ = La³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺, Lu³⁺, sal = salicylic acid, phen = phenanthroline) were prepared. Interactions between the complexes and calf thymus DNA (ct‐DNA) were investigated using UV–visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence quench experiment and viscosity measurement. Hypochromicity and red shift of the absorption spectra of complexes were observed in the presence of DNA. The enhanced emission intensity of ethidium bromide (EB) in the presence of DNA was quenched by the addition of lanthanide complexes, which indicated that the lanthanide complexes displaced EB from its binding sites in DNA. Based on the systematic research of the binding constant (K_b) and the fluorescence quenching constant (K_q) of the 12 complexes, we found that the complexes with smaller lanthanide ion radius had stronger binding abilities with DNA. Viscosity measurement showed that the relative viscosity of the DNA solution was enhanced with increasing the amounts of the complexes. All these results suggested that the complexes could bind to DNA and the major binding mode was intercalative binding. Moreover, all these complexes exhibited excellent antibacterial abilities against Escherichia coli. Also, the antibacterial activities of complexes with heavy rare earth were higher than those of complexes with light rare earth. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cofluorescence of dyes in nanoparticles from metal ion complexes with diketones

Nanoparticles (NPs) from diketonates of Al³⁺, Sc³⁺, In³⁺ and Ln³⁺ doped with dye molecules are synthesized. The appearance of sensitized fluorescence (cofluorescence) of dye molecules due to energy transfer from the ensemble of complexes forming NPs is revealed in aqueous solutions of these NPs. It is shown that the dye cofluorescence in NPs from Eu complexes occurs as a result of two distinct processes of energy transfer (ET) to dye molecules: from singlet levels of ligands and from Eu³⁺ ions. It is found that the efficiency of ET from Eu³⁺ ions to dyes in NPs from Eu(DBM)₃phen is one order of magnitude higher than the efficiency of ET from S₁-levels of ligands to dyes in NPs from Al complexes with the same ligands. It is shown that the excitation of dye molecules through ligands of NPs results in the enhancement of the intensity of their fluorescence by a factor of 1.5–2 orders of magnitude compared to the excitation of their own first band of absorption.     

The Role of Ligand Topology in the Decomplexation of Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes by Dipicolinic Acid

In this study, we present the aqueous solution behavior of two luminescent lanthanide antenna complexes (Eu³⁺? 1 , Dy³⁺? 9 ) with different ligand topologies in the presence of dipicolinic acid (DPA, pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid). Macrocyclic (1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid, DO3A, 9 ) and acyclic (1,4,7‐triazaheptane‐1,1,7,7‐tetraacetic acid, DTTA, 1 ) ligands have been selected to form a ratiometric pair in which Dy³⁺? 9 acts as a reference and Eu³⁺? 1 acts as a probe for the recognition of DPA. The pair of luminescent complexes in water reveals the capability to work as a DPA luminescent sensor. The change of emission intensity of Eu³⁺ indicates the occurrence of a new sensitization path for the lanthanide cation through excitation of DPA. NMR evidence implies the presence of free 1 and mass spectrometry shows the formation of emitting [EuDPA₂]^? as a result of a ligand exchange reaction.     

Radiation-induced graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto fluorinated polymers—II. Graft copolymer-metal complexes obtained by radiation grafting onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyl ether) copolymer

Radiation induced grafting of acrylic acid onto poly (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyl ether) (PFA) films was investigated. The grafted films rapidly adsorbed Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions in high efficiency. The polyacrylic acid grafted onto PFA acted as a chelating site for the previously selected transition metal ions. Such prepared copolymer-metal complexes were confirmed spectrophotometrically via IR, UV-spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and colour index measurements. Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of PFA grafted copolymer-metal complexes were investigated. The applications of such prepared copolymer-metal complexes in the field of semiconductors besides its performance as a cation-exchange membrane may be of great interest.