Mono- and Mixed Metal Complexes of Eu3+, Gd3+, and Tb3+ with a Diketone,Bearing Pyrazole Moiety and CHF2-Group: Structure,Color Tuning,and Kinetics of Energy Transfer between Lanthanide Ions

Three novel lanthanide complexes with the ligand 4,4-difluoro-1-(1,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)butane-1,3-dione (HL), namely [LnL₃(H₂O)₂], Ln = Eu, Gd and Tb, were synthesized, and, according to single-crystal X-ray diffraction, are isostructural. The photoluminescent properties of these compounds, as well as of three series of mixed metal complexes [Eu_xTb_1-xL₃(H₂O)₂] (Eu_xTb_1-xL₃), [EuxGd_1-xL₃(H₂O)₂] (Eu_xGd_1-xL₃), and [Gd_xTb_1-xL₃(H₂O)₂] (Gd_xTb_1-xL₃), were studied. The Eu_xTb_1-xL₃ complexes exhibit the simultaneous emission of both Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, and the luminescence color rapidly changes from green to red upon introducing even a small fraction of Eu³⁺. A detailed analysis of the luminescence decay made it possible to determine the observed radiative lifetimes of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ and estimate the rate of excitation energy transfer between these ions. For this task, a simple approximation function was proposed. The values of the energy transfer rates determined independently from the luminescence decays of terbium(III) and europium(III) ions show a good correlation.     

ANTENNA EFFECT IN LUMINESCENT LANTHANIDE CRYPTATES: A PHOTOPHYSICAL STUDY

Excited state emission and absorption decay measurements have been made on the cage-type cryptate complexes [M bpy.bpy.bpy]ⁿ⁺, where Mⁿ⁺= Na⁺, La³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺ or Tb³⁺ and [bpy.bpy.bpy] is a tris-bipyridine macrobicyclic cryptand. Excitation has been performed in the high intensity ¹π-π* cryptand band with maximum at about 300 nm. Experiments have been carried out in H₂O or D₂O solutions and at 300 and 77 K to evaluate the rate constants of radiative and nonradiative decay processes. For Mⁿ⁺= Na⁺, La³⁺ and Gd³⁺ the lowest excited state of the cryptate is a ³ππ* level of the cryptand which decays in the microsecond time scale at room temperature in H₂O solution and in the second-millisecond time scale at 77 K in MeOH-EtOH. For Mⁿ⁺= Eu³⁺, the lowest excited state is the luminescent ⁵D₀ Eu³⁺ level which in H₂O solution is populated with 10% efficiency and decays to the ground state with rate constants 2.9 × 10³ s^_1 at room temperature and 1.2 × 10³ s^?′ at 77 K. The relatively low efficiency of ⁵D₀ population upon ¹ππ* excitation is attributed to the presence of a ligand-to-metal charge transfer level through which ¹ππ* decays directly to the ground state. For Mⁿ⁺= Tb³⁺ the lowest excited state is the luminescent ⁵D₄ Tb³⁺ level. The process of ⁵D₄ population upon ¹ππ* excitation is ?100% efficient, but at room temperature it is followed by a high-efficiency, activated back energy transfer from the ⁵D₄ Tb³⁺ level to the ³ππ* ligand level because of the relatively small energy gap between the two levels (1200 cm^_1) and the intrinsically long lifetime of ⁵D₄. At 77 K back energy transfer cannot take place and the ⁵D₄ Tb^3* level deactivates to the ground state with rate constant 5.9 × 10² s^-′ (H₂O solution). The relevance of these results toward the optimization of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ cryptates as luminescent probes is discussed.     

Interactions between Eu ions in inorganic-organic hybrid materials

The optical properties of two-dimensional lanthanide dicarboxylates EuBDC or Eu₂(H₂O)₂(O₂C-C₆H₄-CO₂)₃ and EuCDC (denoted also MIL94) or Eu₂(H₂O)₄(O₂C-C₆H₁₀-CO₂)₃.2H₂O are reported. The structures are built up from dimers of corner-sharing polyhedra and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) for EuBDC and from dimers of edge-sharing polyhedra and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (CDC) for EuCDC. The high Eu³⁺ concentration and the weak luminescence quenching allow the study of Eu³⁺ interactions. Anti-Stokes spectra from ⁵D₁ are observed with excitation in ⁵D₀. These results are very unusual for Eu³⁺ ions and reflect strong interactions between ions within a dimer. Excitation spectrum of the Eu³⁺ luminescence strongly differs in both compounds in the UV range. In case of EuBDC, an efficient sensitization of the luminescence due to the ligand is observed between 250 and 350 nm while only 4f-4f transitions are recorded on the Eu³⁺ excitation spectrum in EuCDC. The efficiency of the sensitization of the rare earth by the host is discussed by taking into account the geometrical arrangement and the electronic delocalization of the ligands.     

Preparation and luminescent properties of coordination polymers of terbium and europium with 1,4-bis-(4-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyphenoxycarbonyl)butane

Physicochemical properties of new isostructural homo- and heteronuclear coordination polymers of terbium and europium with 1,4-bis-(4-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyphenoxycarbonyl)butane (H₂L) differing in the composition have been studied. The Tb₂L₃·H₂O compound has exhibited efficient sensibilized green luminescence, whereas the corresponding europium-containing polymer EuL₃·H₂O has shown practically no luminescence due to mismatch of energies of the ligand triplet level and the Eu³⁺ ion emitting level. Heteronuclear terbium-europium polymers (Tb_1.5Eu_0.5L₃·H₂O, TbEuL₃·H₂O, and Tb_0.5Eu_1.5L₃·H₂O) show luminescence via the intramolecular transfer of the exiting energy from Tb³⁺ emitting level to Eu³⁺.     

A Series of Carboxylic‐Functionalized Ionic Liquids and their Solubility for Lanthanide Oxides

Herein we report the synthesis of propanoic acid functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) with various lengths of alkyl chain on the imidazole ring. The synthesized propanoic acid functionalized ILs were used to dissolve Eu₂O₃ (or Tb₄O₇) due to the formation of europium(III) (or terbium(III)) carboxylate, aimed to get soft luminescent materials combining the properties of ILs and attractive luminescent properties of lanthanide ions. The luminescent behavior of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the ILs were investigated by luminescence spectroscopy. The affect of the alkyl chain on the luminescent behavior (the asymmetry parameter (R), the lifetime of ⁵D₀, and the ⁵D₀ quantum efficiency) of Eu³⁺ has been discussed.     

The luminescence of some lanthanide decatungstates

Luminescence of Na₉LnW₁₀O₃₆ · 18H₂O (Ln = Sm, Tb, Dy) and K₉EuW₁₀O₃₆ · 18H₂O is reported. Low efficiency of the Tb³⁺ compound is ascribed to non-radiative loss via a charge-transfer (Tb⁴⁺-W⁵⁺) state. The Sm³⁺ and Dy³⁺ compounds have only medium luminescence efficiency due to cross relaxation between lanthanide ions. The Eu³⁺ compound demonstrates again the sensitivity of Eu³⁺ luminescence to small changes.     

A Lanthanide‐Complex‐Based Ratiometric Luminescent Probe Specific for Peroxynitrite

A lanthanide‐complex‐based ratiometric luminescence probe specific for peroxynitrite (ONOO^?), 4′‐(2,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐6,6′′‐diyl]bis(methylenenitrilo)tetrakis(acetate)‐Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ ([Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺(DTTA)]), has been designed and synthesized. Both [Eu³⁺(DTTA)] and [Tb³⁺(DTTA)] are highly water soluble with large stability constants at ≈10²⁰, and strongly luminescent with luminescence quantum yields of 10.0 and 9.9 %, respectively, and long luminescence lifetimes of 1.38 and 0.26 ms, respectively. It was found that the luminescence of [Tb³⁺(DTTA)] could be quenched by ONOO^? rapidly and specifically in aqueous buffers, while that of [Eu³⁺(DTTA)] did not respond to the addition of ONOO^?. Thus, by simply mixing [Eu³⁺(DTTA)] and [Tb³⁺(DTTA)] in an aqueous buffer, a ratiometric luminescence probe specific for time‐gated luminescence detection of ONOO^? was obtained. The performance of [Tb³⁺(DTTA)] and [Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺(DTTA)] as the probes for luminescence imaging detection of ONOO^? in living cells was investigated. The results demonstrated the efficacy and advantages of the new ratiometric luminescence probe for highly sensitive luminescence bioimaging application.     

Luminescence of Eu3+ and Tb3+ Complexes of Two Macrobicyclic Ligands Derived from a Tetralactam Ring and a Chromophoric Antenna

Two macrobicyclic ligands derived from an 18‐membered tetralactam ring and 2,2′‐bipyridine or 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine moieties, 1 and 2 , respectively, form stable complexes with Gd^III, Eu^III, and Tb^III ions in aqueous solution. The ligand‐based luminescence is retained in the Gd^III cryptates, whereas this radiative deactivation is quenched in the Eu^III and Tb^III cryptates by ligand‐to‐metal energy transfer, resulting in the usual metal‐centered emission spectra. Singlet‐ and triplet‐state energies, emission‐decay lifetimes, and luminescence yields were measured. [Tb⊂ 1 ]³⁺ cryptate shows a long luminescence lifetime (τ=1.12 ms) and a very high metal luminescence quantum yield (Φ=0.25) in comparison with those reported in the literature for Tb³⁺ complexes sensitized by a bipyridine chromophore. By comparison to [Ln⊂ 1 ]³⁺, [Ln⊂ 2 ]³⁺ presents markedly lower luminescence properties, due to worse interaction between the 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine unit and the metal ion. Moreover, the luminescent metal and the triplet ligand energy levels of [Eu⊂ 2 ]³⁺ do not match. The effects of H₂O molecules coordinated to the metal centre and of thermally activated decay processes on nonradiative deactivation to the ground‐state are also reported.     

多色发光层状稀土氢氧化物/聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合荧光薄膜的组装

本文通过水热法合成了含有3种不同稀土离子的层状稀土氢氧化物(Gd0.5Tb0.5-xEux)2(OH)5NO3.nH2O,并选择有机物水杨酸(HSA)作为敏化剂,通过在水热条件下的离子交换反应,成功将其以有机阴离子形式与层状稀土氢氧化物插层组装获得有机-无机杂化荧光材料(SA--LRHs∶xEu)。荧光性质测定表明,SA-通过有效的能量转移增强了Tb3+的特征绿色荧光发射,随着Eu3+含量的增加,Eu3+的特征红色荧光发射随之增强,而Tb3+的特征绿色荧光发射随之减弱。在此基础上,将发光颜色可调的有机-无机荧光材料与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)复合组装出透明的荧光薄膜。     

Coordination compounds of europium(III), terbium(III), dysprosium(III), samarium(III), and gadolinium(III) with 2-acetylbenzoic acid

LnAcbenz₃ · 3H₂O complexes of Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Sm³⁺, and Gd³⁺ with 2-acetylbenzoic acid (HAcbenz) have been synthesized. The complexes have been studied by thermogravimetry and infrared and luminescence spectroscopy. According to IR spectroscopy data, the complexation of Acbenz^? with lanthanide ions occurs due to the bidentate coordination of carboxyl groups. According to thermal analysis, the complexes are dehydrated at a temperature above 140°C, and their thermodestruction begins at a temperature above 250°C. From the luminescence spectra measured at 77 and 300 K, it has been established that the integral luminescence intensity of EuAcbenz₃ · 3H₂O and TbAcbenz₃ ° 3H₂O is, respectively, 10 and 19 times higher than for tris-benzoates of the same metals. TbAcbenz₃ ° 3H₂O, the most intensively luminescing complex, is recommended for use as a promising luminescent material.     

Luminescence in NaLn(SO4)2H2O: A host lattice with high-energy vibrations

The luminescence of Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Dy³⁺ in NaLn(SO₄)₂H₂O (Ln = lanthanide) is reported. Only Ce³⁺, Gd³⁺, and Tb³⁺ show efficient emission. This is explained in terms of an energy-gap law. Energy transfer is studied in several codoped compositions. The mutual transfer between Gd³⁺ ions is the only one encountered with high probability. The several transfers are discussed and where possible their rates are calculated.     

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.     

Lanthanide(III)‐Based Multicolor Luminescent Hybrid Gel for Amine Sensing

Bridged polysilsesquioxanes (BPs) show great potential in the development of lanthanide‐based luminescent materials, owing to their capacity to loading lanthanide complexes with high concentration and their flexible processability. A novel BP precursor, consisting of a C ₃‐symmetrical benzene central core moiety, capable of sensitizing the luminescence of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ is reported. Tunable, full‐color luminescent gels were facilely prepared by mixing the as‐synthesized precursor and Ln³⁺ ions in appropriate solvents. By either changing the Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ molar ratio or altering the excitation wavelength, the emission colors of the final gels can be finely tuned. Additionally, the yellow‐colored emissive gel with a molar ratio of Eu³⁺ to Tb³⁺ of 0.5 can be used as an effective ratiometric luminescent sensor for distinguishing amines with lower pK _a (<5) from those with higher pK _a (>9).     

多色发光层状稀土氢氧化物/聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合荧光薄膜的组装

本文通过水热法合成了含有3种不同稀土离子的层状稀土氢氧化物 (Gd_0.5Tb_0.5-xEu_x)₂(OH)₅NO₃·nH₂O, 并选择有机物水杨酸(HSA)作为敏化剂, 通过在水热条件下的离子交换反应, 成功将其以有机阴离子形式与层状稀土氢氧化物插层组装获得有机-无机杂化荧光材料(SA^--LRHs:xEu)。荧光性质测定表明, SA^-通过有效的能量转移增强了Tb³⁺的特征绿色荧光发射, 随着Eu³⁺含量的增加, Eu³⁺的特征红色荧光发射随之增强, 而Tb³⁺的特征绿色荧光发射随之减弱。在此基础上, 将发光颜色可调的有机-无机荧光材料与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)复合组装出透明的荧光薄膜。     

Energy transfer and heat-treatment effect of photoluminescence in Eu-doped TbPO4 nanowires

We have successfully synthesized Eu³⁺-doped TbPO₄ nanowires, which are orderly organized to form bundle-like structure. A thermal treatment up to 600 °C does not modify the size, shape and structure of as-synthesized sample. Due to the energy overlap between Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺, an efficient energy transfer occurs from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺. The effects of Eu³⁺ concentration and thermal treatment on the luminescent properties of Eu³⁺ are investigated. The increase of Eu³⁺ concentration leads to the increase of the energy transfer efficiency from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺, but also enhances the probability of the interaction between neighboring Eu³⁺, which results in the concentration quenching. With the heat-treatment, the luminescence of Eu³⁺ presents an obvious increase, but almost no change for the luminescence of Tb³⁺. This difference is explained based on the TGA, DTA, and fluorescent decay dynamics analyses.     

Different crystal structure and photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes with 5-bromonicotinic acid

Five novel lanthanide (Eu³⁺ (1), Tb³⁺ (2), Sm³⁺ (3), Dy³⁺ (4) and Gd³⁺ (5)) complexes with 5-Bromonicotinic acid (5-Brnic) were synthesized and two of them (Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The results reveal that {[Tb(5-Brnic)₃(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n (2) and [Sm(5-Brnic)₃(H₂O)₂·H₂O]₂ (3) exhibit different coordination geometries and crystal structures. Complex 2 has a one-dimensional chain-like polymeric structure through the bridged 5-Brnic anions which links up two neighboring terbium ions, while Complex 3 forms a dimeric molecular structure. The lowest triplet state energy of 5-Brnic was determined to be 24 330 cm⁻¹ corresponded to the 0-0 transition in the phosphorescence spectrum of its gadolinium complex at 411 nm. The strong luminescent emission intensities of these complexes indicated that the triplet state energy of 5-Brnic is suitable for the sensitization of luminescence of Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ and Dy³⁺, especially for that of Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺.     

Study of the luminescence properties of a novel rare earth complex Tb(DPC)22H2O

Rare earth complex Tb(DPC)₂2H₂O was synthesized by introducing Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid(H₂DPC) as the ligand and characterized by UV, fluorescent and infrared spectra as well as elemental analysis. The complex exhibited ligand-sensitized green emission, and it has the higher sensitized luminescent efficiency and longer lifetime. The effect and mechanism of the ligand (H₂DPC) on the luminescence properties of terbium complex was discussed. In device ITO/PVK/Tb(DPC)₂2H₂O/Al, Tb³⁺ may be excited by intramolecular energy transfer from ligand as observed by electroluminescence. The main emitting peak at 545 nm can be attributed to the transition of ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ of Tb³⁺ ion and this process results in the enhancement of green emission from electroluminescence device.     

Three Lanthanide Metal‐Organic Frameworks Based on an Ether‐Decorated Polycarboxylic Acid Linker: Luminescence Modulation,CO2 Capture and Conversion Properties

Three new isostructural 3D lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs), {H[LnL(H₂O)]?2 H₂O}_n ( 1‐Ln ) (Ln=Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺ and Tb³⁺), based on infinite lanthanide‐carboxylate chains were constructed by employing an ether‐separated 5,5′‐oxydiisophthalic acid (H₄L) ligand under solvothermal reaction. 1‐Eu and 1‐Tb exhibit strong red and green emission, respectively, through the antenna effect, as demonstrated through a combination of calculation and experimental results. Moreover, a series of dichromatic doped 1‐Eu_xTb_y MOFs were fabricated by introducing different concentrations of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, and they display an unusual variation of luminescent colors from green, yellow, orange to red. 1‐Eu with channels decorated by ether O atoms and the open metal sites displays good performance for CO₂ capture and conversion between CO₂ and epoxides into cyclic carbonates.     

Development of a ratiometric time-resolved luminescence sensor for pH based on lanthanide complexes

Time-resolved luminescence bioassay technique using lanthanide complexes as luminescent probes/sensors has shown great utilities in clinical diagnostics and biotechnology discoveries. In this work, a novel terpyridine polyacid derivative that can form highly stable complexes with lanthanide ions in aqueous media, (4′-hydroxy-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-6,6′′-diyl) bis(methylenenitrilo) tetrakis(acetic acid) (HTTA), was designed and synthesized for developing time-resolved luminescence pH sensors based on its Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ complexes. The luminescence characterization results reveal that the luminescence intensity of HTTA–Eu³⁺ is strongly dependent on the pH values in weakly acidic to neutral media (pK_a = 5.8, pH 4.8–7.5), while that of HTTA–Tb³⁺ is pH-independent. This unique luminescence response allows the mixture of HTTA–Eu³⁺ and HTTA–Tb³⁺ (the HTTA–Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ mixture) to be used as a ratiometric luminescence sensor for the time-resolved luminescence detection of pH with the intensity ratio of its Tb³⁺ emission at 540 nm to its Eu³⁺ emission at 610 nm, I_540 nm/I_610 nm, as a signal. Moreover, the UV absorption spectrum changes of the HTTA–Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ mixture at different pHs (pH 4.0–7.0) also display a ratiometric response to the pH changes with the ratio of absorbance at 290 nm to that at 325 nm, A_290 nm/A_325 nm, as a signal. This feature enables the HTTA–Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ mixture to have an additional function for the pH detection with the absorption spectrometry technique. For loading the complexes into the living cells, the acetoxymethyl ester of HTTA was synthesized and used for loading HTTA–Eu³⁺ and HTTA–Tb³⁺ into the cultured HeLa cells. The luminescence imaging results demonstrated the practical utility of the new sensor for the time-resolved luminescence cell imaging application.     

Crystal structure and luminescence property of novel three-dimensional network of {Eu2(p-BDC)3(Phen)2(H2O)2}n

The single crystal of a supramolecule, {Eu₂(p-BDC)₃(Phen)₂(H₂O)₂}_n (p-BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), with characteristic luminescence of Eu³⁺ was obtained by means of soft chemistry. The crystal structure determination reveals that each Eu³⁺ ion is coordinated by five oxygen atoms of p-BDC anions, one oxygen atom from water molecule, and two nitrogen atoms of Phen, respectively, resulting in an eight-coordinated Eu³⁺ center and a distorted square antiprism coordination polyhedron. Four bridges, two carboxylates of μ₄-p-BDC and two of μ₃-p-BDC, connect two Eu atoms into a binuclear unit. Moreover, the μ₃-p-BDC integrates the binuclear building blocks at the direction of b axis and the μ₄-p-BDC polymerizes the structure roughly along the direction of the sum vector of axis b and c, respectively, forming two-dimensional layers. Hydrogen bonds between layers make the structure a three-dimensional network. The luminescence spectra measured under 77 K demonstrate the antenna effect of Phen and the ⁵D₁→⁵D₀ energy transfer path within Eu³⁺ ion. Both luminescence spectra and crystal structure lead to the conclusion that the local symmetry around the Eu³⁺ ion is C₁ and that more than one Eu³⁺ ion sites having slight environmental difference are present.