A photoluminescent switch based on the hybrid organized molecular films of decatungsteuropate and some amphiphiles

Facile high yield, excellent catalytic performance of polyoxometalate-based lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes: Syntheses, structures, photocatalysis and THz spectra

Water pollution, which continuously threatens human health and the sustainable development of society, has become a major concern. Photocatalytic degradation is an effective strategy to remove organic dyes from wastewater. For this strategy, it is crucial to select the appropriate catalyst. Using triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh₃) as the ligand, phosphomolybdic acid as the anion template, three new lanthanide complexes [Ln(OPPh₃)₄(H₂O)₃](PMo₁₂O₄₀)∙4C₂H₅OH (1-3) (Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb) were synthesized. The raw materials for the reaction are cheap and readily available. The convenient synthesis method is environmentally friendly, with high yield (70%-80%). Complexes 1-3 are all seven-coordinated mononuclear structures centered on lanthanide ions, [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3- anions and solvent molecules are not coordinated with metal ions. These mononuclear structures eventually form complicated 3D supramolecular structures through hydrogen bonds, Mo-O ^… π or C-H ^… π weak interactions. Complexes 1-3 photocatalytic degradation of MB have high removal rates, as catalysts have enough stability to be reused, and can be used as excellent catalysts for the degradation of dye molecules in sewage. Among them, the removal rate of MB by photodegradation of complex 2 was highest (99.50%). In addition, the effects of different initial concentrations of MB solution and different types of organic dyes on the photocatalysis experiment were investigated. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of complexes 1-3 was also studied. Due to the similar structures of complexes 1-3, they have almost the same THz absorption spectra with different absorption intensity, which may be attributed to the difference of the number of weak interactions. Therefore, terahertz spectroscopy can be used as a sensitive method to distinguish and determine small differences between lanthanide-organic complexes. This is the first time that this spectrum has been used to characterize lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes modified by [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3-.

Visual Luminescent Probes Constructed by Eu3+ Complex-Functionalized Silica Nanocomposites and Their Langmuir-Blodgett Films at Interfaces

The trivalent europium ion (Eu³⁺) has garnered a great deal of interest for the design of luminescent materials possessing compound-independent emission bands, strong luminescent intensity, and long emission lifetimes. We herein introduce a synthetic methodology capable of constructing visual luminescent probes from Eu³⁺ complex-functionalized silica nanocomposites and their Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films at interfaces. In order to facilitate the coordinative stabilization of Eu³⁺ over carrier surfaces, silica nanoparticles (nanoSiO₂) were pregrafted with terpyridyl (TPy) to make nanoSiO₂TPy linkers. Then, a well-designed coordination reaction of nanoSiO₂TPy with EuCl₃ and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) was carried out at solid-liquid and air-water interfaces, where our desired material (denoted as nanoSiO₂TPy@EuDPA) and its corresponding LB film are obtained. The presence of TPy and DPA interacting with Eu³⁺ plays a key role in regulating the chemical nature of the particle surface, hence giving rise to closely packed nanocomposite arrays in the film. As a result, the improvement in uniformity and stability is achieved alongside the enhancement in emission intensity and lifetime. With such advantageous optical properties, we find them workable as facile, green, and affordable luminescent sensors, by which a range of common toxic anions (Cr₂O₇^2-, MnO₄^-, and PO₄^3-) can be visually and quantitatively recognized. Notably, the LB film-based material could afford a higher K_sv value (1.53 × 10⁵ M^-1), a lower detection limit (0.157 μM), and better recyclability than its original powder analogue, showcasing its utility as a more promising candidate for practical use.

Multi-stimuli Responsive Supramolecular Structures Based on Azobenzene Surfactant-Encapsulated Polyoxometalate

Multi-stimuli responsive materials have attracted intense attention as extensive application prospect in many fields, yet achievement of multi-stimuli responsiveness remains a challenge. Herein, we report a tri-stimuli responsive supramolecular structure fabricated by a cationic surfactant, 4-ethyl-4'-(trimethylaminohexyloxy) azobenzene bromide (ETAB), and anionic Eu-containing polyoxometalates (Eu-POM), based on an ionic self-assembly (ISA) strategy. Following different responsive mechanisms, the resultant ETAB/Eu-POM supramolecular materials are responsive to UV light, pH, and Cu(2+), respectively. The response to UV irradiation is based on the configuration change of azobenzene molecules. The response to H(+) can be attributed to the formation of a hydrogen bond W-O···H···O-H among Eu-POM, H(+), and H2O, which blocks the energy transfer pathway from O → W, while the coordination interaction between Cu(2+) and Oc (bridged oxygen of two octahedra sharing an edge in the Eu-POM molecule) causes the response to Cu(2+). The multi-stimuli responsive characteristics for the ETAB/Eu-POM supramolecular structures maybe provide a potential application in ultraviolet detection, optical storage devices, and chemical substance sensors, etc.

First Orange Fluorescence Composite Film Based on Sm-Substituted Tungstophosphate and Its Electrofluorochromic Performance

We chose a Sm-containing sandwich-type tungstophosphate K3Cs8[Sm(PW11O39)2]·10H2O (SmPW11) as a molecular dyad, which contains photoluminescence and electrochromism components in a skeletal structure, and investigated its electrofluorochromic performance both in solution and in composite films. First, the electrochemical activity and luminescence property of SmPW11 were studied in different pH solutions to determine the optimal pH solution medium; and then, the electrofluorochromic performance of SmPW11 was investigated under the optimized pH solution medium. Subsequently, the composite films containing SmPW11 were prepared on quartz substrates and conductive ITO substrates through a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method, using PDDA and PEI as molecular linkers. Characterization methods of the composite films include UV-vis spectra, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), bulk electrolysis with coulometry, chronoamperometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Finally, in situ UV-vis and fluorescence spectroelectrochemical systems were used to research electrofluorochromic properties for the composite films under electrochemical modulation. The results indicate that the composite films display not only orange luminescence emission but also reversible orange luminescence switching behaviors manipulated by the redox process of tungstophosphate species PW11 via the energy transfer between the orange luminescence component Sm and electroreduced species of tungstophosphate PW11.

Ionic Liquid Crystals: Versatile Materials

This Review covers the recent developments (2005-2015) in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals. It was designed to give a comprehensive overview of the "state-of-the-art" in the field. The discussion is focused on low molar mass and dendrimeric thermotropic ionic mesogens, as well as selected metal-containing compounds (metallomesogens), but some references to polymeric and/or lyotropic ionic liquid crystals and particularly to ionic liquids will also be provided. Although zwitterionic and mesoionic mesogens are also treated to some extent, emphasis will be directed toward liquid-crystalline materials consisting of organic cations and organic/inorganic anions that are not covalently bound but interact via electrostatic and other noncovalent interactions.

Ultrathin free-standing polymer membranes with chemically responsive luminescence via consecutive photopolymerizations

A facile and general strategy for the preparation of chemically responsive ultrathin free-standing polymer membranes is demonstrated via UV-induced photopolymerizations.

A two-step binding process of Eu-containing polyoxometalates to bovine serum albumin

Polyoxometalates (POMs) represent a type of typical polyanionic nanoclusters that can be utilized as inorganic bioactive materials; however, the detailed interactions of them with many target biomolecules such as peptides and proteins were not well clarified due to the complexity of the binding process. In the present study, the binding-induced physiochemical phenomena of a highly charged Eu-containing polyoxometalate, K13[Eu(SiW9Mo2O39)2] (EuSiWMo), with a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was identified upon the examination of luminescence of both the components during the titration. The large emission enhancement and subsequent quenching of the EuSiWMo were found in close relation to the amount of added BSA. Being different from the known binding type of less charged POMs, a distinct two-step binding process was concluded, and the possible mechanism was proposed through the analysis on the time-resolved fluorescence spectra, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D COS). The present results directed a new understanding for the charge numbers and existing state of POMs affecting the interaction with proteins, which is important to exploit the biological functionalities of POMs in related systems and the development of POMs as potential inorganic drugs.

Enhanced sensitivity of color/emission switching of fluorescein film by incorporation of polyoxometalate using HCl and NH3 gases as in situ stimuli

Highly transparent tricomponent hybrid film agarose–[P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁵⁻–fluorescein displays enhanced sensitivity of color/emission switching for HCl and NH₃ gases.

Self-assemblies of luminescent rare earth compounds in capsules and multilayers

This review addresses luminescent rare earth compounds assembled in microcapsules as well as in planar films fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method and in self-assembled monolayers. Chemical precipitation, electrostatic, van der Waals interactions and covalent bonds are involved in the assembly of these compounds. Self-organized ring patterns of rare earth complexes in Langmuir monolayers and on planar surfaces with stripe patterns, as well as fluorescence enhancement due to donor-acceptor pairs, microcavities, enrichment of rare earth compounds, and shell protection against water are described. Recent information on the tuning of luminescence intensity and multicolors by the excitation wavelength and the ratio of rare earth ions, respectively, are also reviewed. Potential applications of luminescent rare earth complex assemblies serving as biological probes, temperature and gas sensors are pointed out.

Dual-emissive photoluminescent Langmuir-Blodgett films of decatungstoeuropate and an amphiphilic iridium complex

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of the decatungstoeuropate [Eu(W(5)O(18))(2)](9-) (EuW(10)) and the amphiphilic Ir complex 1 have been successfully fabricated by using the adsorption properties of the EuW(10) polyanion dissolved in the aqueous subphase onto a positively charged 1 monolayer at the air-water interface. The compression isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) of monolayers of 1 on pure water (1 monolayer) and on a subphase containing 10(-6) M EuW(10) and 10(-3) M NaCl (1/EuW(10) monolayer) have been studied. Infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy of the transferred LB films indicate that EuW(10) and 1 molecules are incorporated within these LB films. X-ray reflectivity (SXR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments indicate that LB films of 1 present a heterogeneous morphology while 1/EuW(10) films show a flatter and more homogeneous surface as well as a layered structure with a periodicity of 4.1 nm. Mixed monolayers of 1 and DODA (dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide) have been prepared with EuW(10) polyanions in the subphase to control the concentration of 1 and EuW(10) polyanions within the LB films. AFM and SXR experiments with the transferred LB films show that the dilution of 1 with DODA improves the layered structure. The luminescence of 1 is partially quenched by EuW(10) in the 1/EuW(10) LB films, while emission from EuW(10) is not detected. On the other hand, emission from both entities is preserved in the LB films prepared from mixed DODA/1 monolayers, in which the red and yellow emissions arise independently from EuW(10) and 1, respectively. The different DODA:1 ratios lead to changes in the emission color. Therefore, they constitute a promising color-tunable luminescent material.

Preparation and characterization of Langmuir-Blodgett films of wheel-shaped Cu-20 tungstophosphate and DODA by two different strategies

A novel surfactant-encapsulated organic-inorganic hybrid compound (DODA)(24)Li[Cu(20)Cl(OH)(24)(P(8)W(48)O(184))] x 18 H(2)O (DODA-Cu20) has been prepared from the wheel-shaped tungstophosphate salt K(12)Li(13)[Cu(20)Cl(OH)(24)(H(2)O)(12)(P(8)W(48)O(184))] x 22 H(2)O (Cu20) and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODA), and it has been characterized by elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), (1)H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Monolayer and multilayer films of DODA-Cu20 were fabricated on different substrates by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique using H(2)O as the subphase. Another type of organic-inorganic hybrid film, DODA/Cu20, was also deposited on the same substrates as used for the film containing DODA-Cu20 under the same conditions by the LB technique using a Cu20 aqueous solution as the subphase and DODA as the cationic amphiphile for comparison. Both thus-prepared organic-inorganic hybrid films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, transmission and polarized FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results indicate that stable monolayers at the air-water interface for DODA-Cu20 and at the air-Cu20 solution interface for DODA can be formed and that two LB films containing DODA-Cu20 and DODA/Cu20 constructed by two different methods both exhibit well-ordered lamellar structures. It is proposed that Cu20 exhibits different packing modes in the two LB films depending on the deposition strategy used.