Study of the effect of ligands on the fluorescence properties of terbium ternary complexes

Four ternary complexes of Tb(III) were synthesized by introducing the first ligand (L₁) (N-phenylanthranilic acid (N-HPA), α-furoic acid (FURA)) and the second ligand (L₂) (1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), 2,2′-dipyridyl (Bipy)), respectively. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, XRD, UV spectra and fluorescence spectra. The effect of L₁ and L₂ on the fluorescence properties of terbium complexes was discussed. It showed that all the complexes exhibited ligand-sensitized green emission. The fluorescent intensity increased in the sequence of Tb(FURA)₃Bipy < Tb(N-PA)₃Phen < Tb(FURA)₃Phen < Tb(N-PA)₃Bipy. It indicated that L₁ affected fluorescence properties of the complexes differently when the corresponding L₂ altered. Meanwhile, the influence of L₂ on the luminescence properties of the complexes also depends on L₁. The results showed that L₁ and L₂ affected each other and worked together as a whole. The matching of L₁, L₂ and Tb³⁺ ion is very important to the luminescence properties of Tb(III) ternary complexes.