Enhanced electroluminescence of Eu by Tb in complexes Tb1−xEux(TTA)3Dipy

A series of rare earth ternary compounds of Tb_1−xEu_x(TTA)₃Dipy (HTTA=thenoyltrifluoroacetone, Dipy=2,2′-dipyridyl) have been synthesized, and the characteristics of the compounds have been performed by DTA-TG, IR, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that the complexes of Eu(III) emit strong red luminescence under UV radiation. IR spectra suggest that complexes have been successfully synthesized, and TG curves indicate that the complexes are stable up to a temperature of about 220 °C. The Eu complex was blended with poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and spin coated into films, and electroluminescence devices with the structure of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/PVK:Tb_1−xEu_x(TTA)₃Dipy/BCP(2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)/aluminum quinoline (AlQ)/Al were fabricated, the luminescence of Eu³⁺ complexes enhances after doping with Tb³⁺. Therefore, it may be an effective method to improve the EL intensity of the lanthanide complex.     

共掺杂稀土配合物Tb0.5Eu0.5(TTA)3Dipy发光性质的研究

以TTA为TTA配体合成了新的共掺杂稀土配合物Tb0.5 s Eu0.5(TTA)3 Dipy,通过与PVK的掺杂,分析了PVK 和Tb0.5Eu0.5(TTA)3Dipy之间的能量传递过程,并且制备了以PVK:Tb0.5Eu0.5(TTA)3Dipy为发光层的结构为ITO/PVK:Tb0.5 Eu0.5(TTA)3 Dipy/PBD/Al的发光器件,通过改变两者之间的质量比,得到了较纯的Eu3 的红色发光.通过与PVK:Eu(TTA)3混合体系的比较,发现Tb3 的引入,起到了能量传递桥梁的作用,提高了PVK 到Eu3 的能量传递,从而抑制了PVK 的发光.因此,通过引人适当的第二种金属离子,会增强另一稀土离子的发光,是作者提高稀土离子发光效率的一种有效的手段.     

Design, synthesis and characterization of a highly luminescent Eu-complex monomer featuring thenoyltrifluoroacetone and 5-acryloxyethoxymethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline

A multi-functional ligand, 5-acryloxyethoxymethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (Hamq), was synthesized, which contained a polymerizable C=C double bond for the copolymerization with other vinyl monomers and acted as photon antenna able to transfer energy to Eu³⁺ ions effectively. The triplet state energy of Hamq was determined to be 22,370 cm⁻¹ via the phosphorescence spectra of Hamq and its gadolinium complex. The title complex monomer Eu(tta)₂(amq) was prepared by coordination reaction of Hamq with europium isopropoxide and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (Htta) in dry organic solvents under argon atmosphere and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectrum. The photophysical properties of the complex were studied in detail with UV-vis, luminescence spectra, luminescence lifetime and quantum yield. The complex exhibited nearly monochromatic red emission at 612 nm, a remarkable luminescence quantum yield at room temperature (30.6%) upon ligand excitation and a long ⁵D₀ lifetime (389 μs), which indicated that the ligand Hamq could sensitize the luminescence of Eu(III) ion efficiently in Eu(tta)₂(amq), resulting in a strong luminescence of its copolymer poly[MMA-co-Eu(TTA)₂(amq)] under UV excitation. The excellent luminescence properties of the complex made it not only a promising light-conversion molecular device but also an excellent luminescent monomer.     

Analysis on fluorescence of dual excitable Eu(TTA)3DPBT in toluene solution and PMMA

Photoluminescence of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT (TTA=thenoyltrifluoro-acetonate DPBT=2-(N,N-diethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine) in toluene and PMMA thin film are measured with excitation at 350 and 404 nm, respectively, and analyzed using Judd-Ofelt theory. Under excitation at 350 nm, it is found that Eu(TTA)₃DPBT in toluene has a larger Ω₂ value (14.33×10⁻²⁰ cm²) than that (12.70×10⁻²⁰ cm²) of Eu(TTA)₃Phen (Phen=1,10-phenanthroline) in the same solvent, and has a smaller Ω₂ value (12.70×10⁻²⁰ cm²) in PMMA than that (Ω₂=14.09×10⁻²⁰ cm²) of Eu(TTA)₃Phen in PMMA. At the same time, it can be seen that under excitation at 350 nm Ω₂ value of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT in toluene is larger than that in PMMA. Excited by 404 nm, Ω₂ of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT obtained in toluene and in PMMA are the same as that excited at 350 nm. The transition probability (A), emission cross-section (σ) and the fluorescence branching ratio (β) are also evaluated. The lifetime of ⁵D₀ metastable state is measured on 350 and 404 nm excitation, respectively. For the former situation, it is 455 μs in toluene and 640 μs in PMMA, for the latter it is 460 μs in toluene and 664 μs in PMMA. By comparing absorptions with excitations, it can be found that DPBT is more efficient than TTA as an energy donor. Phosphorescence spectra are also measured to estimate the lowest triplet level and analyze the energy transfer for DPBT and TTA, from which it is found that the energy transfer from TTA to DPBT occurs in the luminescent process.     

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.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of complexes of Eu(III) with 2-thienyltrifluoroacetonate, terephthalic acid and phenanthroline

This work reports the synthesis and luminescent properties of complexes of europium(III) with 2-thienyltrifluoroacetonate (HTTA), terephthalic acid (TPA) and phenanthroline (Phen), in the solid state. The new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and thermal stability analysis. Both binuclear complex Eu₂(TPA)(TTA)₄Phen₂ and polynuclear complex Eu(TPA)(TTA)Phen present better thermal stability than the mononuclear complex Eu(TTA)₃Phen does. The formation of the binuclear/polynuclear structure of the complexes appears to be responsible for the enhancement of the thermal stability. The emission spectra show narrow emission bands that arise from the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=0-4) transition of the Eu³⁺ ion. The spectral data of the complexes Eu(TPA)(TTA)Phen and Eu₂(TPA)(TTA)₄Phen₂ present only one sharp peak in the region of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₀ transition indicating that only one Eu³⁺ ion species is present in each sample. In addition, the luminescence decay curves of the complexes Eu(TPA)(TTA)Phen and Eu₂(TPA)(TTA)₄Phen₂ fit a single-exponential decay law. The values of quantum efficiencies of the emitting ⁵D₀ level for the complexes Eu(TPA)(TTA)Phen and Eu₂(TPA)(TTA)₄Phen₂ are 29% and 28%, respectively.     

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.     

新型Eu~(3+)、Tb~(3+)掺杂配合物的合成与荧光性能研究

合成了稀土(Eu3+和Tb3+)与二苯甲酰甲烷(DBM)、2,2′-联吡啶(Dipy)的一系列稀土配合物EuxTb1-x(DBM)3Dipy。元素分析和红外分析确定了配合物的组成,荧光光谱研究了荧光性质。铽掺入配合物后,铽能极大地增强铕的特征荧光,铽对铕配合物的发光有协同作用。在该系列配合物中,不仅有机配体可以将吸收的能量传递给发光的铕离子使其发光,而且铽离子也可将其吸收的能量通过分子内能量传递给铕离子。     

Synthesis, photoluminescence and bioconjugation of rare-earth (Eu) complexes-embedded silica nanoparticles

Eu(DBM)₃Phen-embedded silica nanoparticles were synthesized in water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion containing aqueous phase of Eu(DBM)₃Phen, surfactant Triton X-100, cosurfactant octanol and oil-phase cyclohexane. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The low-temperature time-resolved emission spectra indicate that the Eu complex in the silica nanoparticles have longer lifetime than that of the pure complex. Under 355 nm continuous excitation, the nanoparticles show high resistance to photobleaching. The free amino groups were attached to silica surfaces by copolymerization of 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane. Preliminary results demonstrated that the silica-coated Eu complex nanoparticles can be a probe in the detection of biomolecular interactions.     

Development of electroluminescence cell using a Eu0.5Y0.5(TTA)3Phen organic luminescent complex

Novel red emitting organic luminescent complexes, namely Eu_0.5Ln_0.5(TTA)₃ Phen (Eu: europium, Ln: Y/Tb, Y: yttrium, Tb: terbium, TTA: thenoyl tri fluoro acetone, Phen: phenanthroline) were synthesized by solution technique, maintaining stoichiometric ratio. These complexes were characterized by various techniques such as XRD, optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Electroluminescence cells were designed by sandwiching Eu_0.5Ln_0.5(TTA)₃Phen between indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminum (Al). Voltage?current characteristics and voltage?brightness characteristics of the developed electroluminescent cell were carried out. Turn on voltage of both the devices was found to be 9 V. These devices emit intense red emission at 611 nm, proving their potential applications as organic light emitting diodes and displays.     

Evaluation of intramolecular energy transfer process in the lanthanide(III) bis- and tris-(TTA) complexes: Photoluminescent and triboluminescent behavior

This work reports the energy transfer mechanism process of [Eu(TTA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] (bis-TTA complex) and [Eu(TTA)₃(TPPO)₂] (tris-TTA complex) based on experimental and theoretical spectroscopic properties, where TTA=2-thienoyltrifluoroacetone and TPPO=triphenylphosphine oxide. These complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The theoretical complexes geometry data by using Sparkle model for the calculation of lanthanide complexes (SMLC) is in agreement with the crystalline structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The emission spectra for [Gd(TTA)₃(TPPO)₂] and [Gd(TTA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] complexes are associated to T→S₀ transitions centered on coordinated TTA ligands. Experimental luminescent properties of the bis-TTA complex have been quantified through emission intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ=2 and 4), spontaneous emission rates (A_rad), luminescence lifetime (τ), emission quantum efficiency (η) and emission quantum yield (q), which were compared with those for tris-TTA complex. The experimental data showed that the intensity parameter value for bis-TTA complex is twice smaller than the one for tris-TTA complex, indicating the less polarizable chemical environment in the system containing nitrate ion. A good agreement between the theoretical and experimental quantum yields for both Eu(III) complexes was obtained. The triboluminescence (TL) of the [Eu(TTA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] complexes are discussed in terms of ligand-to-metal energy transfer.     

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.     

Deactivation pathways of the electronic excitation of ions of lanthanide complexes in polymers with functional groups

Complexes Eu(TTA)₃phen and Eu(MBTA)₃phen, as well as complexes Tb(MBTA)₃phen and Tb(TTA)₃phen, which do not luminesce in solutions, are shown to luminesce in polymer films (TTA is thenoyltrifluoroacetone, MBTA is n-methoxybenzoyltrifluoroacetone, and phen is o-phenanthroline). Luminescence of complexes of Eu and Tb in films of a polymer, poly(methylene-bis-anthranilamide) 1,6-hexamethylenedicarboxylic acid (PAA-5), having a high concentration of functional anthranilate groups, is studied. From the behavior of the luminescence intensity (I _lum), the luminescence decay time, and the luminescence spectra of complexes of these lanthanides in polymer films, the following regular features were revealed. (i) During the film preparation at 90°C, Ln complexes are attached to PAA-5 via anthranilate groups. (ii) Irradiation of these films in the range of the absorption band of ligands (TTA or MBTA) leads to deactivation of the electronic excitation of ions according to the diketone detachment mechanism and to further binding of complexes to polymers. In this case, I _lum(Eu(III)) decreases because the introduction of anthranilate groups of the polymer into the first coordination sphere of Eu(III) complexes enhances the nonradiative deactivation of these ions, whereas I _lum(Tb(III)) increases since the introduction of these groups suppresses the nonradiative deactivation of Tb complexes through triplet states of ligands (TTA and MBTA). (iii) Upon storage of films in the dark (20°C), complexes detach themselves from the polymer and return to their initial structure. In PAA-5 films into which Eu and Tb complexes were simultaneously introduced, the color of the emission from the irradiation spot changes from red to green.     

Synthesis and Fluorescence Properties of Lanthanide (III) Perchlorate Complexes with Naphthyl-Naphthalinesulphonylpropyl Sulfoxide

A ligand with double sulfinyl groups, naphthyl-naphthalinesulphonylpropyl sulfoxide(dinaphthyl disulfoxide, L), was synthesized by a new method and its several lanthanide (III) complexes were synthesized and characterized by element analysis, molar conductivity, coordination titration analysis, IR, TG-DTA, ¹HNMR and UV spectra. The composition of these complexes, were RE₂(ClO₄)₆·(L)₅·nH₂O (RE = La, Nd, Eu, Tb, Yb, n = 2 ∼ 6, L = C₁₀H₇SOC₃H₆SOC₁₀H₇). The fluorescent spectra illustrated that the Eu (III) complex had an excellent luminescence. It was supposed that the ligand was benefited for transferring the energy from ligand to the excitation state energy level (⁵D₀) of Eu (III). The Tb (III) complex displayed weak luminescence, which attributed to low energy transferring efficiency between the average triplet state energy level of ligand and the excited state (⁵D₄) of Tb (III). So the Eu (III) complex displayed a good antenna effect for luminescence. The phosphorescence spectra and the relationship between fluorescence lifetime and fluorescence intensity were also discussed.     

Synthesis and Fluorescence Properties of Lanthanide (III) Perchlorate Complexes with Bis(benzoylmethyl) Sulfoxide

A ligand with two carbonyl groups and one sulfinyl group has been synthesized by a new method and its several lanthanide (III) complexes were synthesized and characterized by element analysis, molar conductivity, coordination titration analysis, IR, TG-DSC, ¹H NMR and UV spectra. The results indicated that the composition of these complexes is REL₅(ClO₄)₃·3H₂O (RE = La(III), Pr(III), Eu(III), Tb(III), Yb(III), L = C₆H₅COCH₂SOCH₂COC₆H₅). The fluorescent spectra illustrate that both the Tb (III) and Eu (III) complexes display characteristic metal-centered fluorescence in solid state, indicating the ligand favors energy transfer to the excitation state energy level of them. However, the Tb (III) complex displays more effective luminescence than the Eu (III) complex, which is attributed to especial effectively in transferring energy from the average triplet energy level of the ligands (T) onto the excited state (⁵D₄) of Tb (III) than that (⁵D₀) of Eu (III), showing a good antenna effect for Tb(III) luminescence. The phosphorescence spectra and the relationship between fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence intensities were also discussed.     

Spectroscopic properties of polycrystals of supramolecular europium complexes with bathophenanthroline

Nanostructured supramolecular complex of europium(III) with bathophenanthroline (bphen), with detonation synthesis nanodiamonds (NDs) used as a structure-forming element, has been synthesized for the first time. The characteristics of the Eu(bphen)₂(NO₃)₃ complex and the supramolecular complex with NDs, ND–Eu(bphen)₂(NO₃)₂, are studied and compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), luminescence spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and electron-spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The luminescence quantum yields of the complexes are estimated by the relative method using a β-diketonate complex of europium (III) with tris(thenoyltrifluoroacetone) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Eu(TTA)₃phen) as a reference. It is found that the ND–Eu(bphen)₂(NO₃)₂ supramolecular complex has a higher photoresistance than the complex without NDs and no worse thermal stability (up to a temperature of +150°C).     

一种新型稀土配合物Eu(TTA)(2NH_2-Phen)_3的发光特性研究

合成了一种新型的稀土配合物Eu(TTA)(2NH_2-Phen)_3,将其作为掺杂物与基质聚乙烯基咔唑(PVK)按照不同质量比混合共溶,旋涂成膜.测量了混合薄膜的光致发光光谱,确认了所合成的Eu(TTA)(2NH_2H-Phen)_3具有发射荧光的能力,进而将其应用于电致发光器件中.还制备了以PVK:Eu(TTA)(2NH_2-Phen)_3为发光层,器件结构为ITO/PVK:Eu(TTA)(2NH_2-Phen)3/2,9-dimethy1-4,-diphenyl-1,10-plaenan thmline(BCP)/8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum(Alq_3)/Al的多层器件,得到了 Eu~(3+)的红色电敛发光.研究不同掺杂浓度时器件发光光谱的变化及PVK的发射光谱与Eu(TTA)(2NH_2-Phen)_3的吸收光谱的交叠情况,证明了混合薄膜中Eu~(3+)电致发光机理主要足载流子的直接俘获.     

Preparation, characterization, and luminescence properties of novel hybrid material containing europium(III) complex covalently bonded to MCM-41

In this paper, a novel luminescent organic-inorganic hybrid material containing covalently bonded ternary europium complex in mesoporous silica MCM-41 has been successfully prepared by co-condensation of tetrethoxysilane (TEOS) and the modified ligand 2-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phen-3-(triethoxysilyl)propylcarbamate (PIP-Si) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as template. PIP-Si containing 1,10-phenanthroline covalently grafted to 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate is used not only as a precursor but also as the second ligand for Eu(TTA)₃·2H₂O (TTA: 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetate) complex to prepare a novel functionalized mesoporous material. The resulted mesoporous composite materials, which demonstrate strong characteristic emission lines of Eu³⁺⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4), were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), small-angle X-ray diffraction, excited-state decay analysis. Emission intensity of the Eu(III) complex covalently linked to MCM-41 (Eu-MCM-41) increases with the increasing irradiation time, demonstrating better photostability compared with both pure Eu(III) complex and physically incorporated sample.     

Assemblies, characterization, and luminescent enhancement of organized molecular films based on rare earth complexes

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of different molar percentages of Eu(TTA)₃Phen (TTA=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone; Phen=1,10-phenanthroline) with Gd(TTA)₃Phen coexisting with arachidic acid (AA) (complexes:AA=1:l, in molar ratio) were fabricated and the luminescence enhancement of Eu(III) in the films was studied in this investigation. The monolayers and LB films were characterized by π-A isotherms, fluorescence microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and low-angle X-ray diffraction. High-quality LB films and strongly luminescent films were obtained. It was learned from the present study that an efficient intermolecular energy transfer occurred from Gd(TTA)₃Phen to Eu(TTA)₃Phen in the films, which resulted in the luminescence enhancement effect. According to the proposed model of the “active enhancement circle” the distance of energy transfer from Gd-, Tb-, La-, and Y-complex to Eu-complex were calculated to be 1.2, 1.2, 0.7 and 1.0 nm, respectively.     

偏苯三甲酸铕（Ⅲ）系列四元配合物的合成及相关性能研究

合成了Eu（Ⅲ）与偏苯三甲酸（TLA）、2-噻酚甲酰三氟丙酮（HTTA）和邻菲罗啉（Phen）形成的两个新的四元配合物。运用元素分析、红外光谱、扫描电镜、热重与荧光光谱等手段对它们进行了系统的表征。研究结果表明,偏苯三甲酸与2-噻酚甲酰三氟丙酮Eu（Ⅲ）和邻菲罗啉形成的四元配合物,具有比偏苯三甲酸Eu（Ⅲ）和邻菲罗啉形成的三元配合物更强的荧光强度与更宽的紫外激发,比配合物Eu（TTA）3Phen更好的热稳定性。得到了两种热稳定性较好的鲜艳红色荧光材料。