The preparation and fluorescence properties of europium nanoparticles

A new structured metallic nanomaterial of europium nanoparticle was prepared using tannic acid as the reductive agent,and nanoeuropium protein conjugates were synthesized by the method of lipoic acid modification on the surface of nanoparticle,which opens a new field of application of lanthanides in nanotechniques.Their properties were also characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy,transmission electron microscopy (TEM),and fluorescence spectroscopy.The europium nanoparticle and its protein conjugates solution were stable and water-soluble.The fluorescence intensity of the composite europium nanoparticles was significantly increased in the presence of trace protein,and was linear proportional to the concentration of proteins under optimum conditions.According to this,a fluorimetric method for the determination of protein was developed in this paper.     

Sol–gel synthesis of silica composited flower-like microspheres using trivalent europium tartrate as a template

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Silica composited flower-like microspheres were synthesized by a facile sol–gel synthesis method using trivalent europium tartrate (Eu3+-TTA) as...     

Kinetic investigation for sorption of europium and samarium from aqueous solution using resorcinol–formaldehyde polymeric resin

Kinetic study for Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ sorption on resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) polymeric material has been performed using batch method. The sorption process of Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ was carried out at different contact time, pH of medium, initial ion concentration and temperature. The experimental data indicated that, RF could be used as an efficient sorbent for Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺. The sorption kinetic for Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ onto RF polymeric resin takes about 1 h to reach equilibrium which is considered as a fast kinetic process. Sorption results were fitted using different kinetic models such as pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. The results indicated that the sorption of both Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ onto RF resin is highly fit with the pseudo-second order model. Moreover, the obtained results showed that the maximum separation factor between Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ was obtained at pH 3. Therefore, RF resin is considered as a promising material for sorption of Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ form aqueous solution.     

Electroluminescent properties of three ternary europium complexes with different phenanthroline derivatives

In the past decade a number of lanthanide com-plexes have been designed and synthesized for organic electroluminescent (EL) devices owing to their ex-tremely sharp emission bands and potentially high internal quantum efficiency[113]. This characteristic made the lanthanide complexes one kind of promising candidates for full color flat-panel displays which re-quire pure red, green and blue emissions. So far, how-ever, the devices based on lanthanide complexes as emitters have not demonstrated v…     

Liquid–liquid extraction of neodymium (III) and europium (III) using synergic mixture of furosemide and tribenzylamine in benzyl alcohol

The extraction behavior of Nd(III) and Eu(III) with 0.05 mol dm⁻³ furosemide in benzyl alcohol as single acidic extractant and then with equimolar (0.05 mol dm⁻³) synergic mixture of furosemide as acidic extractant and tribenzylamine as neutral donor in benzyl alcohol has been studied from aqueous solutions of pH 1 to 6. The effect of various parameters and of various cations and anions on the extraction of these metal ions was investigated. The composition of the extracted adducts was determined by slope analysis method that came out to be [(M(FS)₂)⁺ (CH₃COO)⁻] and [M(FS)₃·3TBA] where M = Nd(III) and Eu(III).

     

Speciation of organic-soluble europium(III) α1-Wells-Dawson complexes

In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the speciation of the Eu(III) complex of the lacunary Wells-Dawson isomer, α1-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) in organic media. The Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate, α1-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) (abbreviated as α1) forms well-defined complexes with europium(III) (and other lanthanide(III)) ions in aqueous solution of predominantly 1 : 1 stoichiometries. The 8-coordinate Eu(III) ion is bound to 4 basic terminal oxygens (O(α1)) and four water molecules (O(H(2)O)) that complete the coordination sphere. Tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) cations are employed to render the [(H(2)O)(4)Eu(α1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7-) (Eu-α1) complex soluble in acetonitrile. Europium(III) provides the unique opportunity to employ luminescence spectroscopy and multinuclear NMR to probe the coordination environment. We interrogate the innermost coordination sphere of the Eu(III) ion in acetonitrile solution and in MeCN/H(2)O mixtures. We provide evidence toward the fractional displacement and coordination of acetonitrile within the TBA salts, that is consistent with recent EXAFS data. (31)P NMR and Stern-Volmer quenching studies suggest that dimerization to the 2 : 2 species is negligible in acetonitrile and MeCN-H(2)O mixtures. The decreasing transition energy in the excitation spectroscopy of the TBA-Eu-α1 analog upon dilution is consistent with a nephelauxetic effect, which is attributed to a slight increase in covalency upon replacement of water with acetonitrile. Determination of the number of bound waters (q) is also consistent with acetonitrile-water exchange. The reactivity of the 1 : 1 TBA-Eu-α1 with heterocyclic aromatic amines (1,10-phenanthroline, phen, and 2,2' bipyridine, bipy) in MeCN was probed by titrations monitoring the Eu(III) emission upon sensitization by the "antenna ligands". Binding constants for the products 1 : 1 TBA(x-y)H(y)[(Phen)(H(2)O)(2)Eu(α1-P(2)W(17)O(61))] and 1 : 2 TBA(x-y)H(y)[(Phen)(2)Eu(α1-P(2)W(17)O(61))] (denoted 1 : 1 TBA-Eu-α1:phen and 1 : 2 TBA-Eu-α1:phen, respectively), were determined: logK(1): 7.05 ± 0.04 and logK(2): 4.63 ± 0.10. These are reasonably strong formation constants for Ln phenanthroline complexes. In comparison the bipyridine complexes are much weaker. Excitation spectroscopy reveals that the coordination environment about the Eu(III) center is consistent with the ternary 1 : 1 TBA-Ln-α1:phen or 1 : 2 TBA-Ln-α1:phen complexes. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy shows significant chemical shift changes at 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometries and the chemical shift of bound water tracks with the titration to validate expulsion of the H(2)O upon coordination of phenanthroline.     

Online analysis of europium and gadolinium species complexed or uncomplexed with humic acid by capillary electrophoresis–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Detailed information on the geochemical behavior of radioactive and toxic metal ions under environmental conditions (in geological matrices and aquifer systems) is needed in order to assess the long-term safety of waste repositories. This includes knowledge of the mechanisms of relevant geochemical reactions, as well as associated thermodynamic and kinetic data. Several previous studies have shown that humic acid can play an important role in the immobilization or mobilization of metal ions due to complexation and colloid formation. In our project we investigate the complexation behavior of (purified Aldrich) humic acid and its influence on the migration of the lanthanides europium and gadolinium (homologs of the actinides americium and curium) in the ternary system consisting of these heavy metals, humic acid and kaolinite (KGa-1b) under almost natural conditions. Capillary electrophoresis (CE, Beckman Coulter P/ACE MDQ), with its excellent separation performance, was hyphenated with a homemade interface to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS, VG Elemental PlasmaQuad 3) giving a system that is highly sensitive to the rare-earth element species of europium and gadolinium with humic acid. The humic acid used was also halogenated with iodine, which acted as an ICP–MS marker. To couple CE to ICP–MS, a fused silica CE capillary was flexibly fitted into a MicroMist 50 μl nebulizer with a Cinnabar cyclonic spray chamber in the external homemade interface. The chamber was chilled to a temperature of 4 °C to optimize the sensitivity. 200 ppb of cesium were added to the CE separation buffer so that the capillary flow could be observed. A make-up fluid including 4 ppb Ho as an internal standard was combined with the flow from the capillary within the interface in order to get a fluid throughput high enough to maintain continuous nebulization. Very low detection limits were achieved: 125 ppt for ¹⁵³Eu and 250 ppt for ¹⁵⁸Gd. Using this optimized CE–ICP–MS coupling system it was possible to quantify metal concentrations from the detection limit up to approximately 1 ppm (the linear range). This set-up was used to separate metal/humic acid-species in a 100 mM acetic acid/10 mM acetate buffer system. Using humic acid as the complexing ligand, uncomplexed metal ion species could be separated from metal–humate complexes on a time-resolved scale.      

Optical chemosensor properties of europium(III) tris(β-diketonates)

Interaction between Eu(III) tris(β-diketonates) and ammonia vapors increases the luminescence of Eu(III). A mechanism for the effect of analyte molecules on the intensification of Eu(III) luminescence is proposed. The mechanism includes the displacement of water molecules from the coordination sphere of europium(III).     

Reduction of sterically hindered β-diketiminato europium(III) complexes by the β-diketiminato anion: a convenient route for the synthesis of β-diketiminato europium(II) complexes

The metathesis reaction of anhydrous EuCl(3) with sodium salt of bulky β-diketiminato NaL (L = [N(2, 4, 6- Me(3)C(6)H(2))C(Me)](2)CH(-), L(2, 4, 6-Me3); [N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))C(Me)](2)CH(-), L(2, 6-ipr2) and [(2, 6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))NC(Me)CHC(Me)N(C(6)H(5))](-), L(2, 6-ipr2)(Ph)) in THF at 60 °C afforded the corresponding Eu(II) complexes: Eu(II)(L(2, 4, 6-Me3))(2)(THF) (1), Eu(II)(L(2, 6-ipr2))(2) (2) and Eu(II)(L(2, 6-ipr2)(Ph))(2) (5) with the formations of dimers (L(2, 4, 6-Me3))(2) (3) and (L(2, 6-ipr2))(2) (4) for the former two reactions and proligand L(2, 6-ipr2)(Ph)H (6) for the latter one. Compounds 1-6 were confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure analysis. The central metal Eu(II) in 1 is coordinated by two monoanionic L(2, 4, 6-Me3) ligands and one THF molecule in a trigonal bipyramid. The Eu(II) in each of 2 and 5 is ligated by two monoanionic ligands to form a tetrahedral geometry. The BVS (Bond Valence Sum) calculation indicates the oxidation state of Eu in all the three complexes is 2+ (2.12 for 1, 1.86 for 2 and 1.99 for 5). The isolation of dimers of (L(2, 4, 6-Me3))(2) and L(2, 6-ipr2))(2) and proligand L(2, 6-ipr2)(Ph)H demonstrates that the reducing agent in the present reduction of a Eu(III) ion to a Eu(II) ion might be the (L(2, 4, 6-Me3))(-), (L(2, 6-ipr2))(-) and (L(2, 6-ipr2)(Ph))(-), respectively. The possible mechanism for the reduction pathway is presented.     

Synthesis and luminescence-spectral properties of benzoheterocyclic β-diketones and their complexes with europium

In order to solve some environmental and biomedical problems, we synthesized fluorinated heterocyclic β-diketones and estimated the luminescence-spectral properties of these compounds complexes with the ions of rare-earth elements as the possible reagents for immunofluorescence analysis.     

Studies of aminolysis of acrylonitrile–divinylbenzene–methyl methacrylate copolymers

Aminolysis of nitrilacrylate–divinylbenzene–methyl methacrylate copolymers by diethylenetriamine is studied under various conditions. The effect of temperature and catalyst concentration on the properties of synthesized anion exchangers depending on the duration of aminolysis is investigated. The conditions for synthesizing anion exchangers with high capacity characteristics are proposed according to the study results.     

Enhancement of the luminescence of europium(III) β-diketonates in the ligand series β-diketones-their unsaturated analogues-copolymers

A change in the luminescence intensity of europium compounds was studied for the series of ligands β-diketones-their unsaturated analogues (monomers)-copolymers with styrene (methyl methacrylate). The optimal ratios of comonomers (1 : 2; 1 : 5) providing the maximum luminescence intensity of europium were determined. Europium (n x 10^-3%) was determined in Ce, Pr, Nd, and Ho oxides, which are strong luminescence quenchers, using copolymers containing trifluoroacetylacetone and benzoylacetone.     

Peculiarities of metal—ligand bonding in europium trinitrate complexes: a viewpoint of comparative charge density analysis in crystals

The results of high-resolution X-ray diffraction studies of the charge density distribution in crystals of three europium trinitrate complexes, including those with N-donor "antenna"-ligands are summarized. It is shown that the charge transfer between lanthanide ion and "antenna" correlates with the energy of interaction between the metal and nitrate anion, and the total stabilization energy of the metal polyhedron depends weakly on the coordination number of the metal and the nature of the ligands. The statistical treatment of the crystal structural data for similar complexes and the energies of the corresponding metal—ligand interactions allowed us to suggest the stability of mer-arrangement of the coordinated nitrate anions and to propose a semiempirical relationship to estimate the energy of Eu—O interactions. The influence of vibration processes on the electron density distribution in the EuO₂NO fragment was additionally considered, and a feasibility to estimate the energy of interaction between the ligand and lanthanide ion at non-stationary points on the potential energy surface was validated.     

NMR and luminescence spectroscopy study of the formation of mixed europium β-diketonate complexes with trifluoroacetic acid in nonaqueous solutions

The ligand substitution in Eu(AA)₃ · Phen-CDCl₃-TFA systems, where AA is acetylacetone, Phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, and TFA is trifluoroacetic acid was studied at various molar ratios (m) of competing ligands (m = TFA/AA) using NMR (¹H, ¹⁹F) and luminescence spectroscopy. The formation of mixed Eu(AA)₂(TFA) · Phen and Eu(AA)(TFA)₂ · Phen complexes in the resultant solutions was attested. The luminescence spectra were studied. The competitive capacity of TFA was ascertained to be higher than that of AA. Depending on the m value, the substitution of acido ligands was shown to occur successively according equations Eu(AA)₃ · Phen + (TFA) _n = Eu(AA)_{3 − n} (TFA) _n · Phen + (AA) _n (n = 1, 2, 3).     

Surface tension of liquid high-entropy equiatomic alloys of a Cu–Sn–Bi–In–Pb system

An experimental study of the temperature dependences of the surface tension of liquid high-entropy equiatomic alloys of a Cu–Sn–Bi–In–Pb system is conducted. Measurements are made within the temperature range of t _L to 1300°C in the mode of heating and subsequent cooling of a sample. Overcooling of a melt prior to crystallization is detected. The depth of overcooling grows along with the number of components in the melt, while the temperature coefficient of surface tension falls. The experimental results qualitatively interpreted within the concepts of the specific surface entropy of a liquid.     

Phytochemical characterization of bioactive compounds composition of Rosmarinus eriocalyx by RP–HPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS

Rosmarinus eriocalyx (rosemary or Elyazir) is an endemic species growing in arid steppe and rocky mountain in the South-West Algeria. This plant is well known in Algeria and Morocco due to its medicinal properties. However, little is known about its phytochemical composition. For this purpose, natural antioxidant compounds from R. eriocalyx were recovered by solid-liquid extraction and characterized by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry using negative and positive ionization modes. This analytical methodology enabled the characterization of 101 compounds, which were distributed in five major categories namely hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic diterpenes and phenolic triterpenes. Moreover, the studied extract generally showed free radical-scavenging and reductive abilities in the range of butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, α-tocopherol^, and ascorbic acid. Therefore, the result suggests that the aqueous-methanolic extract of R. eriocalyx could serve as a potential source of antioxidants.     

Activity of copper–cerium–zirconium catalysts in oxidation of hydrogen

We have studied the catalytic properties in oxidation of hydrogen for copper–cerium oxide systems deposited on supports obtained by calcination of yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide at 300–1000 °C. We have shown that the catalytic activity of the samples obtained depends on the specific surface area of the original supports and the amount of reduced copper within the composition of the catalyst. In samples whose support has high specific surface area, the content of reduced metallic copper is greater and the catalytic activity is higher.     

Luminescent characteristics of liquid-phase systems and polymer compositions containing europium β-diketonates solubilized with pluronics

The solubilization of europium β-diketonate complexes with amphiphilic polymers, ternary block copolymers of ethylene and propylene oxides (Pluronics), was shown to change luminescence intensity in such complexes. The association of europium β-diketonate complexes with Pluronics was proved by atomic force microscopy of agglomerates crystallized on mica surfaces from chloroform solutions of Pluronic F-127 in the presence and absence of the luminophores under study. In the absence of luminophores, Pluronic F-127 crystallized on a mica surface had a dendrite-like structure, while the evaporation of chloroform solutions containing both europium β-diketonates and Pluronic F-127 gave crystallized luminophore-Pluronic associates as compact islands with a characteristic size of ～0.5 μm.