Optical Temperature Sensors Based On Europium(III) Beta-Diketonate Complexes Chemically Bonded To Functionalized Polydimethylsiloxane

White Light Emissive Eu(III) Complexes through Ligand Engineering and their Applications in Cool Near Ultraviolet White Light Emitting Diodes and Thermometer

In pursuit of enhancing white light quality for solid-state lighting (SSL) applications, an attempt has been made to design novel imidazo-bipyridyl ligands as an ancillary ligand to obtain multiple emissions (mimic sunlight) in the Eu-complex. By strategically modifying the phenanthroline core with imidazo-bipyridyl incorporation with 1 or 2-Napthyl groups at the C1 position, the excitation spectral line is successfully shifted from Ultraviolet (UV) to near UV/visible spectrum (where the LED emission occurs). The ligands showed greenish blue emission in solid and solution. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were utilized to understand the energy transfer processes from ligand to Eu ion in the Eu complexes. The analysis revealed that the energy transfer is incomplete, primarily attributed to the proximity of triplet state energy levels to the resonance level of Eu(III) ions as reflected in solvatochromism. These complexes exhibit a unique dual emissive behavior (emitting multi-color) including white light across various solvents. These complexes hold great promise as single-component white light-emissive materials, with potential applications in white light-emitting diodes (WLED). The fabricated white LED showed an excellent color rendering index (CRI ~93 %). Beyond lighting, this distinctive property opens avenues for temperature sensing ([Eu(DBM)31-Naph] shows the highest sensitivity of Sr=10.97 %, and [Eu(DBM)32-Naph] shows the highest sensitivity of Sr=5.5 % at 333 K) and vapoluminescent (acid-base on-off-on luminescence) studies. This research pioneers the development of these complexes as potential single-component materials for superior white LEDs, underlining their multifaceted utility in cutting-edge lighting and sensing technologies.

Design of Multi-Luminescent Silica-Based Nanoparticles for the Detection of Liquid Organic Compounds

Tracer testing in reservoir formations is utilised to determine residual oil saturation as part of optimum hydrocarbon production. Here, we present a novel detection method of liquid organic compounds by monodisperse SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) containing two luminophores, a EuIII:EDTA complex and a newly synthesised fluorophore based on the organic boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-moiety. The particles exhibited stable EuIII PL emission intensity with a long lifetime in aqueous dispersion. The fluorescence of the BODIPY was also preserved in the aqueous environment. The ratiometric PL detection technique was demonstrated by using toluene and 1-octanol as model compounds of crude oil. The optimal synthesis conditions were found to give NPs with a diameter of ~100 nm, which is suitable for transport through porous oil reservoir structures. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was confirmed to be very low for human lung cell and fish cell lines. These findings demonstrate the potential of the NPs to replace the hazardous chemicals used to estimate the residual oil saturation. Moreover, the ratiometric PL detection technique is anticipated to be of benefit in other fields, such as biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring, where a reliable and safe detection of a liquid organic phase is needed.

Critical review of polymer and hydrogel deposition methods for optical and electrochemical bioanalytical sensors correlated to the sensor's applicability in real samples

Sensors, ranging from in vivo through to single-use systems, employ protective membranes or hydrogels to enhance sample collection or serve as filters, to immobilize or entrap probes or receptors, or to stabilize and enhance a sensor's lifetime. Furthermore, many applications demand specific requirements such as biocompatibility and non-fouling properties for in vivo applications, or fast and inexpensive mass production capabilities for single-use sensors. We critically evaluated how membrane materials and their deposition methods impact optical and electrochemical systems with special focus on analytical figures of merit and potential toward large-scale production. With some chosen examples, we highlight the fact that often a sensor's performance relies heavily on the deposition method, even though other methods or materials could in fact improve the sensor. Over the course of the last 5 years, most sensing applications within healthcare diagnostics included glucose, lactate, uric acid, O₂, H⁺ ions, and many specific metabolites and markers. In the case of food safety and environmental monitoring, the choice of analytes was much more comprehensive regarding a variety of natural and synthetic toxicants like bacteria, pesticides, or pollutants and other relevant substances. We conclude that more attention must be paid toward deposition techniques as these may in the end become a major hurdle in a sensor's likelihood of moving from an academic lab into a real-world product.

Bifunctional Temperature and Oxygen Dual Probe Based on Anthracene and Europium Complex Luminescence

In this work, we synthesized a polydimethylsiloxane membrane containing two emitter groups chemically attached to the membrane structure. For this, we attached the anthracene group and the [Eu(bzac)₃] complex as blue and red emitters, respectively, in the matrix via hydrosilylation reactions. The synthesized membrane can be used as a bifunctional temperature and oxygen ratiometric optical probe by analyzing the effects that temperature changes and oxygen levels produce on the ratio of anthracene and europium(III) emission components. As a temperature probe, the system is operational in the 203-323 K range, with an observed maximum relative sensitivity of 2.06% K^-1 at 290 K and temperature uncertainties below 0.1 K over all the operational range. As an oxygen probe, we evaluated the ratiometric response at 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C. These results show an interesting approach to obtaining bifunctional ratiometric optical probes and also suggest the presence of an anthracene → europium(III) energy transfer, even though there is no chemical bonding between species.

Composition-Thermometric Properties Correlations in Homodinuclear Eu3+ Luminescent Complexes

A family of homodinuclear Ln³⁺ (Ln³⁺ = Gd³⁺, Eu³⁺) luminescent complexes with the general formula [Ln₂(β-diketonato)₆(N-oxide)_y] has been developed to study the effect of the β-diketonato and N-oxide ligands on their thermometric properties. The investigated complexes are [Ln₂(tta)₆(pyrzMO)₂] (Ln = Eu (1·C₇H₈), Gd (5)), [Ln₂(dbm)₆(pyrzMO)₂] (Ln = Eu (2), Gd (6)), [Ln₂(bta)₆(pyrzMO)₂] (Ln = Eu (3), Gd (7)), [Ln₂(hfac)₆(pyrzMO)₃] (Ln = Eu (4), Gd (8)) (pyrzMO = pyrazine N-oxide, Htta = thenoyltrifluoroacetone, Hdbm = dibenzoylmethane, Hbta = benzoyltrifluoroacetone, Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone, C₇H₈ = toluene), and their 4,4′-bipyridine N-oxide (bipyMO) analogues. Europium complexes emit a bright red light under UV radiation at room temperature, whose intensity displays a strong temperature (T) dependence between 223 and 373 K. This remarkable variation is exploited to develop a series of luminescent thermometers by using the integrated intensity of the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ europium transition as the thermometric parameter (Δ). The effect of different β-diketonato and N-oxide ligands is investigated with particular regard to the shape of thermometer calibration (Δ vs T) and relative thermal sensitivity curves: i.e.. the change in Δ per degree of temperature variation usually indicated as S_r (% K^–1). The thermometric properties are determined by the presence of two nonradiative deactivation channels, back energy transfer (BEnT) from Eu³⁺ to the ligand triplet levels and ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT). In the complexes bearing tta and dbm ligands, whose triplet energy is ca. 20000 cm^–1, both deactivation channels are active in the same temperature range, and both contribute to determine the thermometric properties. Conversely, with bta and hfac ligands the response of the europium luminescence to temperature variation is ruled by LMCT channels since the high triplet energy (>21400 cm^–1) makes BEnT ineffective in the investigated temperature range.

A family of homodinuclear Eu³⁺ luminescent complexes with the general formula [Ln₂(β-diketonato)₆(N-oxide)_y] (y = 2, 3) was developed to study the effect of the β-diketonato and N-oxide ligands on the thermometric properties of the complexes. In this way, an effective tuning of the system’s thermometric properties can be achieved.

A Europium(III) Complex Embedded in a Polysulfone Host Matrix: A Flexible Film with Temperature-Responsive Ratiometric Behaviour

An emissive europium(III) complex [C₂ mim][Eu(fod)₄ ] (1; C₂ mim=1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium; fod=1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-7,7-dimethyloctane-4,6-dionate) was prepared. The complex shows ratiometric thermal behaviour up to 155 °C. These unusual temperature-dependent properties arise from a solid-solid phase transition that promotes increased contact between the anion and the cation, affecting the emission profile of the emissive anion in two different ratiometric relations. A ultrabright and flexible emissive photopolymer film was obtained using polysulfone (PSU) as the host matrix of 10 % (w/w) of 1, that also induced changes on the lanthanide emissive profile with temperature. A temperature-responsive luminescent film 1/PSU is sensitivr to heating between 100 and 155 °C. Also, the emission lifetime of 1 was not affected by confinement in PSU, while its emission quantum yield was reduced from 82 to 59 %.

A Europium(III) Complex with an Unusual Anion-Cation Interaction: A Luminescent Molecular Thermometer for Ratiometric Temperature Sensing

An unusual thermally sensitive anion-cation interaction, which is characteristic of the anion [Eu(FOD)₄ ]^- , occurs in the complex [CHOL][Eu(FOD)₄ ] (1; CHOL=choline; FOD=1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-7,7-dimethyl-4,6-octanedionate) and affects both quantum yield and thermochromic behavior. This prompted the design of an Eu³⁺ -based ratiometric thermometer that functions at temperatures up to 95 °C through a thermally excited state absorption of the Eu³⁺ ion. The reusable temperature-sensitive luminescent complex showed a range of relative sensitivity between 0.45 % C^-1 at 25 °C, with an increase to 7.0 % C^-1 at 95 °C. Confinement of compound 1 in a transparent film of polysulfone resulted in a higher thermal stability of 1 while its luminescence showed a strong temperature dependence.