Luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes-based molecular alloys

Lanthanide-Based Coordination Polymers Molecular Alloys Stability: A Thermochemical Approach

In this study, we investigate the thermodynamics of lanthanide-based coordination polymer molecular alloys. We demonstrate that if lanthanide ions have many chemical similarities, the solubility of homo-lanthanide-based coordination polymers can vary significantly from one lanthanide ion to another. Indeed, we experimentally determine the solubility constants of a series of isostructural homo-lanthanide coordination polymers, with general chemical formula [Ln₂(bdc)₃(H₂O)₄]_∞ with Ln = La-Er plus Y and where bdc^2- symbolizes 1,4-benzene-di-carboxylate. Then, we extend the study to two series of isostructural molecular alloys with general chemical formula [Ln_2xLn'_2 -2x(bdc)₃(H₂O)₄]_∞ with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 based either on heavy ([Eu_2xTb_2 - 2x(bdc)₃(H₂O)₄]_∞) or light ( [Nd_2xSm_2-2x(bdc)₃(H₂O)₄]_∞) lanthanide ions. We found that whatever the solubility difference of the homo-nuclear compounds is, the configurational entropy is the main driving force of the stabilization of molecular alloys.

Luminescent Complexes of Europium (III) with 2-(Phenylethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline: The Role of the Counterions

New antenna ligand, 2-(phenylethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (PEP), and its luminescent Eu (III) complexes, Eu(PEP)₂Cl₃ and Eu(PEP)₂(NO₃)₃, are synthesized and characterized. The synthetic procedure applied is based on reacting of europium salts with ligand in hot acetonitrile solutions in molar ratio 1 to 2. The structure of the complexes is refined by X-ray diffraction based on the single crystals obtained. The compounds [Eu(PEP)₂Cl₃]·2CH₃CN and [Eu(PEP)₂(NO₃)₃]∙2CH₃CN crystalize in monoclinic space group P2_1/n and P2_1/c, respectively, with two acetonitrile solvent molecules. Intra- and inter-ligand π-π stacking interactions are present in solid stat and are realized between the phenanthroline moieties, as well as between the substituents and the phenanthroline units. The optical properties of the complexes are investigated in solid state, acetonitrile and dichloromethane solution. Both compounds exhibit bright red luminescence caused by the organic ligand acting as antenna for sensitization of Eu (III) emission. The newly designed complexes differ in counter ions in the inner coordination sphere, which allows exploring their influence on the stability, molecular and supramolecular structure, fluorescent properties and symmetry of the Eu (III) ion. In addition, molecular simulations are performed in order to explain the observed experimental behavior of the complexes. The discovered structure-properties relationships give insight on the role of the counter ions in the molecular design of new Eu (III) based luminescent materials.

Multifunctional Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Frameworks for Radionuclide Sequestration and Detection

Two lanthanide-containing porous coordination polymers, [Ln₂(bpdc)₆(phen)₂]·nH₂O (1) and [Ln₂(bpdc)₆(terpy)₂]·3H₂O (2) (Ln = Pr, Nd, or Sm-Dy; bpdc: 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid; phen: 1,10-phenanthroline; and terpy: 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine), have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic analyses reveal that compounds 1 and 2 feature Ln³⁺-containing dimeric nodes that form a porous two-dimensional (2D) and nonporous three-dimensional (3D) framework, respectively. Each material is stable in aqueous media between pH 3 and 10 and exhibits modest thermal stability up to ∼400 °C. Notably, a portion of the phen and bpdc ligands in 1 can be removed thermally, without compromising the crystal structure, causing the surface area and pore volume to increase. The optical properties of 1 and 2 with Gd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Eu³⁺ are explored in the solid state using absorbance, fluorescence, and lifetime spectroscopies. The analyses reveal a complex blend of metal and ligand emission in the materials containing Sm³⁺ and Tb³⁺, while those featuring Eu³⁺ are dominated by intense metal-based emission. Compound 1 with Eu³⁺ shows promise for the capture and detection of the uranyl cation (UO₂)²⁺ from aqueous media. In short, uranyl capture is observed at pH 4, and the adsorption thereof is detectable via vibrational and fluorescence spectroscopies and colorimetrically as the off-white color of 1 turns yellow with uptake. Finally, both 1 and 2 with Eu³⁺ produce bright red emission upon irradiation with Cu Kα X-ray radiation (8.04 keV) and are candidate materials for applications in solid-state scintillation.

Highly Luminescent Europium-Based Heteroleptic Coordination Polymers with Phenantroline and Glutarate Ligands

Isostructural lanthanide-based coordination polymers with general chemical formula [Ln(phen)(glu)(NO₃)]_∞ with Ln = La-Tm (except Ce and Pm) have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods (H₂glu stands for glutaric acid and phen stands for 1,10-phenantroline). They crystallize in the monoclinic system with the P2₁/c (no. 14) space group. The crystal structure has been solved on the basis of the La derivative. It can be described as the superimposition of molecular chains of dimeric La(phen)(NO₃)-La(phen)(NO₃) units bridged by glutarate ligands. Luminescent properties have been explored and show that the Eu derivative exhibits the highest luminance observed for Eu-based coordination polymers (85 to 105 cd·m^-2). Effects of the dilution of the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ luminescent ions by Gd³⁺ optically inactive ions are unexpected and to the best of our knowledge unprecedented. This could be related to the different intermetallic energy-transfer mechanisms in competition and to the nonisotropic distribution of the lanthanide ions in these molecular alloys. The investigation of molecular alloys with general chemical formula [Eu_1-xTb_x(phen)(glu)(NO₃)]_∞ with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 highlights a very sizable and constant Eu³⁺ luminescence whatever the x value, which further confirms the existence of very strong intermetallic energy transfers in this family of compounds. It is also noticeable that some coordination polymers based on weakly emissive lanthanide ions exhibit very well defined emission spectra.

Colloidal suspensions of highly luminescent lanthanide-based coordination polymer molecular alloys for ink-jet printing and tagging of technical liquids

A series of lanthanide-based coordination polymer molecular alloy colloidal dispersions usable for ink-jet printing and tagging of technical liquids.