Photophysical properties of Lanthanide(III) 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione complexes with 2,2′-Bipyridyl: An experimental and theoretical investigation

Optical, electrochemical and photophysical analyses of heteroleptic luminescent Ln(iii) complexes for lighting applications

A series of lanthanide complexes have been synthesized with fluorinated 1,3-diketones and heteroaromatic ancillary moieties. Spectroscopic studies reveal the attachment of the respective lanthanide ion to the oxygen site of β-diketone and nitrogen site of auxiliary moieties. The conducting behavior of the complexes is proposed by their optical energy gaps which lie in the range of semiconductors. The emission profiles of the lanthanide complexes demonstrate red and green luminescence owing to the distinctive transitions of Sm³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, respectively. Energy transfer via antenna effect clearly reveals the effective transfer of energy from the chromophoric moiety to the Ln³⁺ ion. The prepared conducting and luminescent Ln(iii) complexes might be employed as the emitting component in designing OLEDs.

Synthesis of green emissive terbium(III) complexes for displays: Optical, electrochemical and photoluminescent analysis

A series of heteroleptic terbium(III) complexes with fluorinated 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and other heteroaromatic units have been synthesized. The developed heteroleptic complexes were inspected via elemental study, cyclic voltammetry, thermal analysis and spectroscopic investigations. Optical band-gap data proposed the conducting property of prepared complexes. The photoluminescence emission profiles illustrated peaks based on terbium(III) cation (Tb³⁺ ) positioned at ~617, 586, 546 and 491 nm, imputed to ⁵ D₄ to ⁷ F_J (J = 3,4,5,6) transitions separately. Most intense peak at 546 nm corresponding to ⁵ D₄  → ⁷ F₅ transition is accountable for the green emissive character of developed complexes. The luminous character of complexes reveals the sensitization of Tb³⁺ by ligands. Color parameters further corroborates the green emanation of Tb³⁺ complexes. The photometric characteristics of complexes recommended their usages in designing display devices.

Fluorinated β-diketone-based Sm(III) complexes: spectroscopic and optoelectronic characteristics

The synthesis and characterization of a series of octa-coordinated Sm(III) complexes with 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedione (TFNB) and 2,2'-bipyridine (Bpy) derivatives as ancillary ligand are described here. The complexes were analyzed by elemental, spectroscopic such as infrared spectroscopy, ¹ H NMR, and thermogravimetric analyses. The fluorinated TFNB ligand absorbs in the range from 200 to 400 nm. The complexes show the sharp and structured Sm-based emissions in visible region upon irradiation in UV range. Excitation spectra of complexes show similarity to the absorption spectra of ligands suggesting that excitation energy is transferred from ligands to Sm(III) centre by the antenna effect. Photoluminescence emission spectra and colour parameters affirmed that the complexes show luminescence in orange-red region. These luminous Sm(III) complexes might be applied as emissive layer in organic electroluminescent devices.

Theoretical Modeling (Sparkle RM1 and PM7) and Crystal Structures of the Luminescent Dinuclear Sm(III) and Eu(III) Complexes of 6,6,7,7,8,8,8- Heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione and 2,3-Bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine: Determination of Individual Spectroscopic Parameters for Two Unique Eu3+ Sites

Heteroleptic homo dinuclear complexes [Sm(fod)₃(μ-bpp)Sm(fod)₃] and [Eu(fod)₃(μ-bpp)Eu(fod)₃] and their diamagnetic analogue [Lu(fod)₃(μ-bpp)Lu(fod)₃] (fod is the anion of 6,6,7,7,8,8,8- heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione (Hfod) and bpp is 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) are synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The lanthanum gave a 1:1 adduct of La(fod)₃ and bpp with the molecular formula of [La(fod)₃bpp]. The ¹H NMR and ¹H-¹H COSY spectra of the complexes were used to assign the proton resonances. In the case of paramagnetic Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ complexes, the methine (of the fod moiety) and the bpp resonances are shifted in the opposite direction and the paramagnetic shifts are dipolar in nature, which decrease with increasing distance of the proton from the metal ion. The single-crystal X-ray analyses reveal that the complexes (Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺) are dinuclear and crystallize in the triclinic P1 space group. Each metal in a given complex is eight coordinate by coordinating with six oxygen atoms of three fod moieties and two nitrogen atoms of the bpp. Of the two metal centers, in a given complex, one has a distorted square antiprism arrangement and the other acquires a distorted dodecahedron geometry. The Sparkle RM1 and PM7 optimized structures of the complexes are also presented and compared with the crystal structure. Theoretically observed bond distances are in excellent agreement with the experimental values, and the RMS deviations for the optimized structures are 2.878, 2.217, 2.564, and 2.675 Å. The photophysical properties of Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ complexes are investigated in different solvents, solid, and PMMA-doped thin hybrid films. The spectroscopic parameters (the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, radiative parameters, and intrinsic quantum yield) of each Eu³⁺ sites are calculated using the overlap polyhedra method. The theoretically obtained parameters are close to the experimental results. The lifetime of the excited state is 38.74 μs for Sm³⁺ and 713.62 μs for the Eu³⁺ complex in the solid state.

Optical Properties of New Terbium(III) Ternary Complexes Containing Anionic 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione and Neutral Sensitizers in Solution, Solid and PMMA Thin Films: Intra and Interphase Colour Tuning

Four new terbium(III) ternary complexes, [Tb(fod)₃ (indazole)] (1), [Tb(fod)₃ (tptz)] (2), [Tb(fod)₃ (impy)] (3) and [Tb(fod)₃ (tppo)₂ ] (4) with 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione, (Hfod) and N and O donors are synthesized and structurally characterized. The photoluminescence of the complexes are studied in solid, chloroform solution and thin PMMA hybrid films (PMMA is a poly(methyl methacrylate)). The ligand-based emission is dominant in solution of 3 and 4. The effect of ancillary ligands on the photoluminescence of terbium(III) ion is investigated. The mechanism of energy transfer is discussed and correlates the luminescence of acceptor terbium ion with the triplet state energy level of donor ligands. Among the four complexes studied, the luminescence from 1 is most intense followed by 2, 4 and 3. The Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates of these complexes are calculated and presented. The complexes 3 and 4 show intraphase color tuning when excited under different UV wavelengths. The emission color of [Tb(fod)₃ (tppo)₂ ] (4) changes from pure blue to turquoise green via almost pure white under 360, 328 and 280 nm UV excitation wavelengths respectively. The [Tb(fod)₃ (impy)] (3) show similar results. The complex [Tb(fod)₃ (tptz)] (2) displays interphase color tuning from yellow (solution) to turquoise green (solid) and fascinatingly incorporation of complex in PMMA polymer generates white light under same excitation wavelength (360 nm).

Selective Sensing of Cu2+ and Fe3+ Ions with Vis-Excitation using Fluorescent Eu3+-Induced Aggregates of Polysaccharides (EIAP) in Mammalian Cells and Aqueous Systems

Fluorescent lanthanide complexes have favorable features for fluorescence-based sensors compared to organic fluorophores and quantum dots. They exhibit very long fluorescence lifetimes, sharp emission bands, and stability with respect to photo-bleaching, without blinking. However, these complexes are usually hydrophobic, and many are excited by UV light, making them hazardous and incompatible with aqueous environments and biological samples. In this work, the strong fluorescent Eu³⁺-induced aggregates of polysaccharides (EIAP) was used to improve their aqueous solubility, and to tune the appropriate excitation wavelength in the visible range for avoiding toxicity of UV light in biological applications. The complexes exhibit bright fluorescence with an excitation maximum in the visible range, near 405 nm. EIAP 3 also exhibit rapid quenching response in the presence of transition metal ions. This enables the detection of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ below 1 ppm. The reverse of quenching response of copper by the addition of a chelating agent makes it possible to recover the fluorescence property. Successfully, the EIAP exhibit cytocompatibility with mammalian cells. Thus, these new polysaccharide-based complexes have the potential for rapid, sensitive and selective metal ion sensors for the environmental systems.

Energy transfer mechanism in luminescence Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid: A theoretical study

Excited state energy level diagrams of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (HCCA) chromophore, Eu(CCA)Cl₂(H₂O)₂ (1), Eu(CCA)₂Cl(H₂O)₂ (2)_, Eu(CCA)₃(H₂O)₃ (3), Tb(CCA)₂Cl(H₂O) (4) and Tb(CCA)₂(NO₃)(H₂O) (5) in gas phase and polar solution have been calculated by means of DFT/TDDFT/ωB97XD methods. Based on these results, the ability of CCA to sensitize Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence has been examined. The competitive excited state processes in the complexes - fluorescence, intersystem crossing (ISC) and phosphorescence, were analyzed depending on the environment, number of the ligands, Ln(III) ion type (Eu and Tb) and counteranion (Cl^- and NO₃^-). It has been found that the environment altered the S₁ state energy, oscillator strength, fluorescence lifetime as well as the S₁ character - polar solution stabilized the S₁(ππ*) state, whereas non-polar solution (gas phase, solid state) stabilized the S₁(nπ*) state. The S₁(nπ*) state was decisive for the efficient energy transfer as it suppressed the S₁ emission of CCA and favored ISC or direct transfer to the emitting levels of Eu(III). The HCCA triplet (T₁) state minimum energy (~2.7, ~2.6^ZPE eV) and (ππ*) character were retained in Eu/Tb-CCA complexes regardless of the environment. The energy gap between the higher energy T₁ donor state and the acceptor levels ⁵D₁ of Eu(III) (~0.5 eV) and ⁵D₄ of Tb(III) (~0.1 eV) provided optimal resonance conditions for effective energy transfer for Eu(III), but less probability for Tb(III). The nonradiative energy (CCA → Eu(III)) transfer rates and quantum luminescence yield for 2 and 3 were calculated by a strategy combining DFT geometries, INDO/S excitation energies and calculated Judd-Ofelt parameters. The excitation channel T₁ → ⁵D₀ through an exchange mechanism was predicted as the most probable one to populate the main emissive Eu-centered state in complexes 2 and 3. The more efficient luminescence of 3 than that of 2 was discussed and explained.

Toward accurate measurement of the intrinsic quantum yield of lanthanide complexes with back energy transfer

This work theoretically shows that the intrinsic quantum yields are different between ligand excitation and direct lanthanide excitation in the presence of back energy transfer.

Eu3+ -tetrakis β-diketonate complexes for solid-state lighting application

Eu³⁺ -β-diketonate complexes are used, for example, in solid-state lighting (SSL) or light-converting molecular devices. However, their low emission quantum efficiency due to water molecules coordinated to Eu³⁺ and low photostability are still problems to be addressed. To overcome such challenges, we synthesized Eu³⁺ tetrakis complexes based on [Q][Eu(tfaa)₄ ] and [Q][Eu(dbm)₄ ] (Q1 = C₂₆ H₅₆ N⁺ , Q2 = C₁₉ H₄₂ N⁺ , and Q3 = C₁₇ H₃₈ N⁺ ), replacing the water molecules in the tris stoichiometry. The tetrakis β-diketonates showed desirable thermal stability for SSL and, under excitation at 390 nm, they displayed the characteristic Eu³⁺ emission in the red spectral region. The quantum efficiencies of the dbm complexes achieved values as high as 51%, while the tfaa complexes exhibited lower quantum efficiencies (28-33%), but which were superior to those reported for the tris complexes. The structures were evaluated using the Sparkle/PM7 model and comparing the theoretical and the experimental Judd-Ofelt parameters. [Q1][Eu(dbm)₄ ] was used to coat a near-UV light-emitting diode (LED), producing a red-emitting LED prototype that featured the characteristic emission spectrum of [Q1][Eu(dbm)₄ ]. The emission intensity of this prototype decreased only 7% after 30 h, confirming its high photostability, which is a notable result considering Eu³⁺ complexes, making it a potential candidate for SSL.

Synthesis, characterization, photoluminescence and intensity parameters of high quantum efficiency pure-red emitting Eu(iii) fluorinated β-diketone complexes

The high quantum efficiency mononuclear 7-, 8- and 9-coordinate complexes of tris(heptafluoro-dimethyl-octanedionato)Eu(iii) and 1H-indazole, 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine and 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine are synthesized and thoroughly characterized.

Synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence studies of [Eu(dbm)3(impy)] and its polymer-based hybrid film

An eight-coordinate Eu(iii) complex with 1,3-dibenzoylmethane (Hdbm) and 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine (impy), [Eu(dbm)₃(impy)], was synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, ESI-MS⁺ studies and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA).

Luminescent europium(iii) and terbium(iii) complexes of β-diketonate and substituted terpyridine ligands: synthesis, crystal structures and elucidation of energy transfer pathways

A series of coordinatively saturated Ln^III complexes: [Ln(R-TPY)(TTA)₃] (1–6) were designed and structurally characterized and plausible energy transfer (ET) pathways determined using a theoretical method.

Misconceptions in electronic energy transfer: bridging the gap between chemistry and physics

Many treatments of energy transfer (ET) phenomena in current literature employ incorrect arguments and formulae and are not quantitative enough. This is unfortunate because we witness important breakthroughs from ET experiments in nanoscience. This review aims to clarify basic principles by focusing upon Förster-Dexter electric dipole-electric dipole (ED-ED) ET. The roles of ET in upconversion, downconversion and the antenna effect are described and the clichés and simple formulae to be avoided in ET studies are highlighted with alternative treatments provided.