Novel luminescent rare earth hybrids covalently trapped through phthalic anhydride linkage

In the present work, a novel functional molecular bridge (PASi) is achieved through the modification of ortho phthalic anhydride (PA) by N-2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyl-methyl-dimethoxylsiliane (abbreviated as AEAPMMS). The PASi plays the role of a functional bridge to link Eu³⁺ (Tb³⁺) through the oxygen atom to a Si–O network formed from tetraethoxysilane. Subsequently, a novel chemically bonded hybrid material with double chemical bonds (RE–O coordination bond and Si–O covalent bond) has been fabricated. The characteristic red luminescence of Eu³⁺ and green luminescence of Tb³⁺ indicate that an efficient energy transfer process exists within the hybrid systems.