Stability of europium(ii) in aqueous nitrate solutions

Expanding the Coordination of f-Block Metals with Tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine: From Molecular Complexes to Cage-like Structures

Low-valent f-block metals have intrinsic luminescence, electrochemical, and magnetic properties that are modulated with ligands, causing the coordination chemistry of these metals to be imperative to generating critical insights needed to impact modern applications. To this end, we synthesized and characterized a series of twenty-seven complexes of f-metal ions including EuII, YbII, SmII, and UIII and hexanuclear clusters of LaIII and CeIII to study the impact of tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine, a flexible acyclic analogue of the extensively studied 2.2.2-cryptand, on the coordination chemistry and photophysical properties of low-valent f-block metals. We demonstrate that the flexibility of the ligand enables luminescence tunability over a greater range than analogous cryptates of EuII in solution. Furthermore, the ligand also displays a variety of binding modes to f-block metals in the solid state that are inaccessible to cryptates of low-valent f-block metals. In addition to serving as a ligand for f-block metals of various sizes and oxidation states, tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine also deprotonates water molecules coordinated to trivalent triflate salts of f-block metal ions, enabling the isolation of hexanuclear clusters containing either LaIII or CeIII. The ligand was also found to bind more tightly to YbII and UIII in the solid state compared to 2.2.2-cryptand, suggesting that it can play a role in the isolation of other low-valent f-block metals such CfII, NpIII, and PuIII. We expect that our findings will inspire applications of tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine in the design of light-emitting diodes and the synthesis of extremely reducing divalent f-block metal complexes that are of interest for a wide range of applications.

Experimental and theoretical studies of a novel europium decorated carbon nanotube material: investigation of cytotoxicity, electrocatalytic properties, and corrosion inhibition behaviour on Mg AZ31 alloy in 3.5% NaCl environment

Leveraging rare-earth elements as one of the eco-friendly candidates to protect alloy coatings, this study performed the europium functionalization of carbon nanotubes (Eu–CNT) for magnesium alloy protection in the 3.5% NaCl medium.

Lanthanide complexes facilitate wound healing by promoting fibroblast viability, migration and M2 macrophage polarization

A tridentate ligand LH3 ((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-(hydroxyimino)propanehydrazide) comprising o-vanillin, hydrazone and oxime donor groups has been employed to prepare a series of tetranuclear Ln(III) complexes. The reaction of ligand LH3 with Ln(NO3)3 [Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er] in MeOH yielded Ln4(LH)6(MeOH)2 (Ln = Sm(1), Eu(2), Gd(3), Tb(4), Ho (6) and Er (7))] whereas the corresponding reaction with Dy(NO3)3 afforded Dy4(LH)4(LH2)2(OH)2 (5). All complexes were characterized by various analytical techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. To investigate the potential of these lanthanide complexes for wound healing applications, their effects on fibroblast viability, migration, and M2 macrophage polarization were evaluated. The cytotoxicity assessment revealed that complexes 2(Eu), 4(Tb), 5(Dy), and 7(Er) significantly enhanced fibroblast viability compared to the negative control (NC). In vitro wound healing assay demonstrated that complexes 2(Eu) and 7(Eu) substantially promoted fibroblast migration compared to the NC. Moreover, complex 2(Eu) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the phagocytic ability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells and attenuating nitric oxide (NO) production. In conclusion, among the series of complexes tested, complex 2(Eu) displayed the most potent anti-inflammatory effect on macrophage cells, while simultaneously promoting fibroblast viability and migration. This unique combination of properties renders complex 2 (Eu) highly promising for wound healing applications.

Ultra-Efficient Americium/Lanthanide Separation through Oxidation State Control

Lanthanide/actinide separation is a worldwide challenge for atomic energy and nuclear waste treatment. Separation of americium (Am), a critical actinide element in the nuclear fuel cycle, from lanthanides (Ln) is highly desirable for minimizing the long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste, yet it is extremely challenging given the chemical similarity between trivalent Am(III) and Ln(III). Selective oxidation of Am(III) to a higher oxidation state (OS) could facilitate this separation, but so far, it is far from satisfactory for practical application as a result of the unstable nature of Am in a high OS. Herein, we find a novel strategy to generate stable pentavalent Am (Am(V)) through coordination of Am(III) with a diglycolamide ligand and oxidation with Bi(V) species in the presence of an organic solvent. This strategy leads to efficient stabilization of Am(V) and an extraordinarily high separation factor (>10⁴) of Am from Ln through one single contact in solvent extraction, thereby opening a new avenue to study the high-OS chemistry of Am and fulfill the crucial task of Ln/Am separation in the nuclear fuel cycle. The synergistic coordination and oxidation process is found to occur in the organic solvent, and the mechanism has been well elucidated by quantum-theoretical modeling.

Oxidation of europium with ammonium perfluorocarboxylates in liquid ammonia: pathways to europium(II) carboxylates and hexanuclear europium(III) fluoridocarboxylate complexes

The novel coordination polymer [Eu(O₂CCF₃)₂(dmf)₂]_∞ (1) (dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide) containing europium(II) and the two new compounds (NH₄)₂[Eu₆F₈(O₂CCF₃)₁₂(CF₃COOH)₆] (2) and (NH₄)₂[Eu₆F₈(O₂CC₂F₅)₁₂(C₂F₅COOH)₆]·8C₂F₅COOH (3), both based on hexanuclear europiate(III) complexes, were synthesized from precursors with a Eu²⁺ : Eu³⁺ ratio >1, obtained by reaction of europium metal with ammonium perfluorocarboxylates in liquid ammonia. In the crystal structure of 1 the europium(II) ions are bridged by carboxylate groups and N,N-dimethylformamide to form polymeric chains with Eu²⁺⋯Eu²⁺ distances of 408.39(13)-410.49(13) pm. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̄ (Z = 2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a (solvated) perfluorocarboxylate containing a lanthanoid in a subvalent oxidation state. In the crystal structures of 2 and 3 the europium(III) ions are bridged by fluoride ions and carboxylate groups to form hexanuclear complex anions with an octahedral arrangement of the cations. The Eu³⁺⋯Eu³⁺ distances are in the range of 398.27(15)-400.93(15) pm in 2 and 395.37(4)-399.78(5) pm in 3, respectively. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group type P2₁/n (Z = 4) and are the first examples of octahedro-hexanuclear europium carboxylates for which fluoride is reported as a bridging ligand. In all compounds the oxidation state of europium was monitored via¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer and photoluminescene spectroscopy.

Co-Assembly of Biosynthetic Chiral Nematic Adhesive Materials with Dynamic Polarized Luminescence

There is currently an extensive demand for simple and effective synthetic methods to allow the design and fabrication of robust and flexible chiral materials that can generate strong and switchable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Herein, biosynthetic light-emitting adhesive materials based upon chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystal-polyelectrolyte complexes with universal high adhesion on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates are reported. Strong and dynamic photoluminescence with highly asymmetric and switchable circular polarization is induced by minute rare earth europium doping without compromising adhesive strength and initial iridescent properties. The photoluminescence can be temporarily quenched with highly volatile acetone vapor and liquid followed by fast recovery after drying with full restoration of initial emission. The unique properties of light-emitting bio-adhesives with universal adhesion, amplified and dynamic photoluminescence, and large and switchable CPL can be utilized for security optical coding, bio-optical memory, hidden communication, and biochemical sensing as wearable stickers, prints, and tattoos to directly adhere to human clothes, gadgets, and skin by using adhesive stickers with bright tailored photoluminescence.

Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Study of EuIII and EuII Coordination in the 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquid

Separation processes based on room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) and electrochemical refining are promising strategies for the recovery of lanthanides from primary ores and electronic waste. However, they require the speciation of dissolved elements to be known with accuracy. In the present study, Eu coordination and Eu^III /Eu^II electrochemical behavior as a function of water content in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIm][NTf₂ ]) was investigated using UV-visible spectrophotometry, time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In situ measurements were performed in spectroelectrochemical cells. Under anhydrous conditions, Eu^III and Eu^II were complexed by NTf₂ , forming Eu-O and Eu-(N,O) bonds with the anion sulfoxide function and N atoms, respectively. This complexation resulted in a greater stability of Eu^II , and in quasi-reversible oxidation-reduction with an E₀ ' potential of 0.18 V versus the ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc⁺ /Fc) couple. Upon increasing water content, progressive incorporation of water in the Eu^III coordination sphere occurred. This led to reversible oxidation-reduction reactions, but also to a decrease in stability of the +II oxidation state (E₀ '=-0.45 V vs. Fc⁺ /Fc in RTIL containing 1300 mm water).