Tuning emissive color of trivalent terbium ion through environmental factors: optoelectronic insights from theoretical, spectral and computational studies

The combination of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (TFPB) and pyrazine (pyz) with Tb3+ ions forms two distinct types of complexes, represented by the formulas [Tb(TFPB)3(L)2], where L is either H2O or pyz, and [(Tb(TFPB)3)2pyz]. A detailed examination of the impact of the surrounding environment on the photophysical properties of these synthesized complexes was conducted. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis indicated that the magnetic dipole transition (5D4 → 7F5) is dominant in Tb(iii)-based systems. The prepared complexes exhibit visible luminescence in both solid and solution media. Remarkably, the luminescence intensity of the mononuclear complex is significantly higher than that of its dinuclear counterpart, highlighting the impact of efficient energy transfer on emission intensity. The CIE color coordinates of these complexes in solution closely align with NTSC standard values. Additionally, modulation of emissive color is evident when the surrounding media (from solid to solution) and solvent nature are altered. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to elucidate the electronic density distribution in the synthesized complexes. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis, including IR, UV, NMR, thermogravimetry and cyclic voltammetry, was conducted, along with theoretical calculations using Judd-Ofelt analysis.

Photoluminescence lifetime stability studies of β-diketonate europium complexes based phenanthroline derivatives in poly(methyl methacrylate) films

In this work, five phenanthroline derivatives substituted with different methyl groups have been selected to synthesize β-diketonate-based europium complexes to check the influence of the substitutions on the degradation effect of those complexes in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. The photophysical properties of Eu(III) complexes, including absorbance, excitation, and emission have been carefully investigated in solution, solid-state, and doped in PMMA film. In all these states, the complexes exhibit an impressive red emission at 614 nm with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 85 %. The films have been exposed under outdoor, indoor, and dark storage stability lifetime conditions for 1200 hours. The photoluminescence measurements recorded every 400, 800, and 1200 hours demonstrated that the film containing europium complex with phenanthroline ligand substituted by a high number of methyl groups (Eu(TTA)3L5) showed good photoluminescent stability in indoor and dark conditions, and exhibited better resistance to degradation in outdoor conditions compared to other complexes. This study has proved that phenanthroline ligands could be tuned chemically leading to better stability of those types of complexes in films which can be end-used for future stable optoelectronic devices such as luminescent solar concentrators.

A terpyridyl-imidazole based europium tris-(β-diketonate) complex as an efficient molecular luminescent thermometer and single component white light emitter via synergy in energy transfer between ligands and Eu3

The thermosensing and thermochromic behavior of one of our recently reported terpyridyl-imidazole based ternary europium tris-(β-diketonate) complexes of the composition [Eu(tta)3(tpy-HImzphen)] (tta = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tpy-HImzphen = 2-(4-[2,2':6',2''] terpyridin-4'-yl-phenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole) has been thoroughly investigated in this work. The said Eu(III) complex exhibits magnificent thermosensing as well as thermochromic properties and can be recommended as an excellent temperature sensor in a wide temperature domain of 273-343 K in terms of both emission intensity ratio (Sm = 5.78% K-1 at Tm = 343 K, δT = 0.012 K) and lifetime values (Sm = 3.36% K-1 at Tm = 333 K, δT = 0.009 K) or even in terms of its emitting color (red at 268 K, violet at 303 K, and blue at 343 K). Additionally, it displays remarkable solvent-induced luminescence behavior by displaying various emitting colors instead of its sole characteristic red emission upon varying the nature of the solvent. Finally, amalgamating these two features, we are able to attain white light emission (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates: x = 0.34, y = 0.38) at 283 K from a single component. A plausible energy transfer mechanism has also been proposed in light of the existence of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) state as the quencher.

Heteroleptic samarium complexes with high quantum yields for temperature sensing applications

Two new crystallographically characterized samarium complexes, [Sm(fod)3(L1)] (1) and [Sm(fod)3(L2)] (2) {L1 = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bath), L2 = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and fod = anion of 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione (Hfod)}, were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Single-crystal (SC) analysis shows that complex 1 is an eight-coordinate structure with a distorted square antiprism geometry (D4d), whereas complex 2 possesses a nine-coordinate structure with distorted muffin geometry (Cs). The NMR results are in line with SC-XRD analysis, which further validate that the complexes remain intact in solutions. The photophysical characteristics of the complexes were studied in both visible and near infra-red (NIR) regions. The PLQY values of the present complexes were found to be higher than those reported in the literature except for a tetrakis Sm complex. This result indicates that both the ligands act as effective antennas for the present systems. A comparison of PLQY and emission lifetime values within the present complexes (in solid state) reveals that energy transfer from terpy to Sm3+ is more effective than that from the bath ligand. Various color parameters of the complexes were calculated, and the determined CCT values suggest that the complexes may be used as warm light sources. The determined band gap values for the complexes are in the range of those for semiconductors, which suggest the application of present systems in the field of optoelectronics. The curve between the emission intensity and temperature for complex 1 shows a perfect linearity (χ2 = 0.99), which suggests that this complex can have potential application as a temperature sensor in the range 60-350 K.

Synthesis, characterization, luminescence properties and deciphering the role of a terpyridyl-imidazole based ligand in the dissimilar luminescence sensitization of ternary lanthanide(III) tris-(β-diketonate) complexes

We designed four ternary lanthanide tris-(β-diketonate) complexes of the form [Ln(tta)3(tpy-HImzphen)], where Ln = LaIII, EuIII, SmIII and TbIII; tta = (2-theonyltrifluoroacetonate) and tpy-HImzphen = 2-(4-[2,2':6',2'']terpyridin-4'-yl-phenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole. All the complexes have been thoroughly characterized by standard analytical tools and spectroscopic techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction. In situ generation of the complexes was also monitored via absorption and emission spectroscopy upon incremental addition of the respective lanthanide precursor {Ln(tta)3(H2O)2} to the dichloromethane solution of the terpyridyl-imidazole ligand. The photophysical behaviors of all the complexes were thoroughly investigated via absorption and both steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopic techniques. The emission spectral measurements were carried out at both room temperature and 77 K to understand the deactivation dynamics of the excited states and elucidate the distinctive luminescence responses from the four lanthanide metal ions owing to the introduction of the terpyridyl-based ancillary ligand.

Pure red-light emitting europium based complexes as efficient UV light converters: synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence properties

This paper reports three new crystallographically characterized europium complexes with composition as follows: [Eu(fod)3(L1)] (1), [Eu(fod)3(L2)] (2) and [Eu(fod)3(L3)] (3) {L1 = benzimidazole (bzi), L2 = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bath), L3 = 2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole (py-im) and fod = anion of 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione (Hfod)}. The single crystal (SC) XRD analysis shows that complex 1 is seven-coordinated while complexes 2 and 3 are eight-coordinated with the geometrical structures of a mono-capped octahedron and a trigonal dodecahedron, respectively. The NMR spectra of the complexes validate the SC-XRD results in solution. The complexes are stable in solution as no dissociation of any ligand was observed in the NMR spectra of the complexes. The photophysical properties of the complexes in solution, solid state, and PMMA thin films were studied. The hypersensitive transition 5D0 → 7F2 dominates the emission spectra in all phases, showing the highly asymmetric environment around the Eu(III) ion. The bath ligand is found to be the best sensitizer of the Eu ion and hence complex 2 shows the strongest luminescence properties with the highest absolute quantum yield among the three complexes. The CIE coordinate analysis shows that pure red-luminescence is emitted by the Eu complexes in the solid state since the coordinates found in this phase are closer to the standard NTSC 1987 values. The optical band gaps were determined for the complexes and the observed values suggest that the complexes can have possible applications in the field of semiconductor materials.

Study of Judd-Ofelt, Urbach energy and photosensitization process in luminescent Sm(III) complexes with heterocyclic ligands

Six samarium (III) complexes were synthesised by employing the β-ketocarboxylic acid as main ligand and five N-donor systems as ancillary ligands through the environmentally safe liquid-assisted grinding method. Various characterisation techniques were employed to determine the structure of the complexes i.e. NMR, IR, XRD and SEM. Photoluminescent studies were carried out in solid as well as in solution form. In solid and solution form emission spectra show maximum intensity peak at 604 and 602 nm, respectively, assigned to ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 transition which explains orange emission on UV excitation in complexes. CCT, CP, colorimetric parameters and quantum yield (relative and intrinsic) of the synthesized complexes were calculated. With the help of reflectance spectra, band gap and Urbach energy were determined. Lasing parameters were also calculated by employing FWHM values obtained from Gaussian fitting. Energy transfer study revealed the efficacious energy transfer from ligand to metal's emissive level. Further antimicrobial studies revealed higher activity in case of complexes in comparison to ligand.

Tuning the Photometric Properties of Ternary Sm3+ Complexes Involving Mixed-Ligands

This research article deals with the synthesis of ternary Sm³⁺ complexes with 6,8-dichlorochromone-3-carboxaldehyde through solution-precipitation method. The photometric properties of resultant complexes were tuned by coordinating N-donor heterocyclic ligands with Sm³⁺ ion. The emission spectra, obtained in the visible region have been studied. Under optical excitation of 370 nm, the complexes displayed characteristic Sm³⁺-centered emission peaks at ~ 563, 600 and 647 nm in solution as well as in powder state. The complexes showed thermal stability up to 175 °C. The complexes delivered quantum yield as high as 7.91% and longest emission lifetime of 0.564 ms. The color coordinates of the complexes, located in deep orange (in solution) and red (in powder) spectral region, matched well with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and European Broadcasting Union. The properties of complexes have been investigated to a significant extent due to their easy synthesis and potential applications as orange-red light emitter in a wide range of photonic applications such as display devices, OLEDs, dashboards, optical systems.

Discovering of the L ligand impact on luminescence enhancement of Eu(Dibenzoylmethane)3.Lx complexes employing transient absorption spectroscopy

The effect of luminescent enhancement under exchange of the auxiliary ligand in Europium(III) tris(1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedionato) monohydrate was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The excited state relaxation dynamics of this complex was analysed through a comparison of the experimental data obtained for several model compounds, namely Eu(DBM)₃·NH₃, Eu(DBM)₃.EDA, Eu(DBM)₃.Phen, Al(DBM)₃ and dibenzoylmethane (DBM) in various solutions and polymer matrices. The results show there is no linear relationship between enhancement of the emission quantum yield and the luminescent lifetime, which suggests that the auxiliary ligand reduces the rate of nonradiative relaxation of the lanthanide ion, but also affects the excited state energy transfer from ligand to metal ion. Transient absorption data shows a clear correlation between the efficiency of the energy transfer and the degree of triplet state population expressed by an amplification of the signal for its excited state absorption band on going from Eu(DBM)₃·H₂O to the Eu(DBM) = .L complex. The results show that this auxiliary ligand exchange acts as a "switch" turning the intersystem crossing on or off as a competitive pathway for excited state relaxation of the europium(III) complexes.

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).

Preparation of SiO2@TiO2:Eu3+@TiO2 core double-shell microspheres for photodegradation of polyacrylamide

Recently, polyacrylamide (PAM) has been widely used in polymer flooding technology to enhance oil recovery and oil production. However, the difficulty in removing hydrolysed PAM (HPAM) from wastewater still seriously blocks the further application of polymer flooding in the oilfields. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of SiO₂@TiO₂:Eu³⁺@TiO₂ core double-shell microspheres (STT) through a two-step solvothermal and sol–gel coating strategy. The as-prepared STT exhibits an ideal photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of HPAM. More importantly, by using STT as the model, the correlation between fluorescence intensity and photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts is investigated. The results suggest their oppositional relationship. Since many kinds of photocatalysts are utilized in the degradation of organic pollutants, it is believed that our work will not only promote the development of photocatalysis in the field of oil extraction, but also offer a convenient method for evaluating the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts.

SiO₂@TiO₂:Eu³⁺@TiO₂ core double-shell microspheres with an ideal photocatalytic activity are designed and prepared for photodegradation of HPAM.

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).