Ternary luminescent lanthanide-centered hybrids with organically modified titania and polymer units

Nicotinic acid (NA) is grafted to titanium alkoxide to achieve functional precursor Ti-NA, which then is coordinated to lanthanide ions (Tb³⁺/Eu³⁺) to prepare the binary titania hybrid materials Ti-NA-Eu/Ti-NA-Tb via a sol–gel process in the presence of water. Furthermore, two types of ternary titania hybrid materials, Ti-NA-Ln-PMAA/Ti-NA-Ln-PVP, are assembled by the introduction of the organic polymers polymethacrylic acid (PMAA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) into the above system. The FTIR spectra of these titania hybrid materials confirm their basic composition, and the X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that they are amorphous. Luminescence spectra and lifetimes of these titania hybrids are recorded, revealing that these hybrid materials with organic polymers exhibit longer luminescence lifetimes and higher quantum efficiencies.