From ligand exchange to reaction intermediates: what does really happen during the synthesis of emissive complexes?

In situ monitoring of the formation of emissive complexes is essential to enable the development of rational synthesis protocols, to provide accurate control over the generation of structure-related properties (such as luminescence) and to facilitate the development of new compounds. In situ luminescence analysis of coordination sensors (ILACS) utilizes the sensitivity of the spectroscopic properties of lanthanide ions to their coordination environment to detect structural changes during crystallization processes. Here, ILACS was utilized to monitor the formation of [Eu(bipy)2(NO3)3] (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) during co-precipitation synthesis. Validity of the ILACS results was ensured by concomitant utilization of in situ monitoring of other reaction parameters, including in situ measurements of pH value, ionic conductivity, and infrared spectra, as well as ex situ and synchrotron-based in situ X-ray diffraction analyses. Gradual desolvation of the Eu3+ ions and attachment of ligands were detected by an exponential increase of the intensity of the 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0-4) transitions in the emission spectrum. Additionally, the in situ emission spectra show a decrease in the crystallization rate and an increase in the induction time in response to a reduction in the concentration of the starting solutions from 12 mM until crystallization ceased at starting reactant concentrations <6 mM. An increase to a three-fold higher concentration leads to the formation of a reaction intermediate, and its stability was determined to be highly concentration-dependent. The in situ luminescence measurements also demonstrated the existence of a ligand exchange process within the [Eu(bipy)2(NO3)3] complex upon addition of a phen (phen = 1,10'-phenanthroline) solution and the generation of a new phen-containing emissive complex. In attempting to solve the structure of this new phen-containing complex, a different, but nevertheless previously unsynthesized complex, [Eu(phen)2(NO3)3]bipy, was obtained, which shows characteristic Eu3+ luminescence in the red spectral range.

Bonding Scheme and Optical Properties in BiM2 O2 (PO4 ) (M=Cd, Mg, Zn); Experimental and Theoretical Analysis.

Luminescence properties of the Bi(M,M')2 PO6 (M=Mg, Zn, Cd) series have been rationalized as a function of the M element using optical spectroscopy, as well as empirical and first principles calculations. The latter yielded indirect band gaps for all compounds with energies between 2.64 and 3.62 eV, whereas luminescence measurements exhibit bright warm white emission luminescence even at room temperature assigned to Bi3+ transitions with, for example, 22.8 % quantum yield for M=Mg. The energies of the excitation maxima are shifted with the covalent character of the Bi-O bond by inductive effects of the neighboring M-O bonds. This is discussed on the basis of empirical and electronic structure calculations. Strikingly, in all the investigated compounds, an excitation process occurring at energies higher than the band gaps is observed, which seems to be intrinsic to the s2 →sp electronic transitions of the Bi3+ ions. Concerning the emission process, a direct correlation between the lone pair (LP) activity and the emission energy upon change of the lattice parameters was established governing the LP stereo-activity in the BiMg2-x Cdx PO6 system. As a result, the possibility for tunable optical properties appears realistic in the Bi2 O3 -MO-X2 O5 (X=P, V, As, etc.) systems taking into account the diversity of reported or novel crystal structures that can be designed using well-established rules of crystal chemistry.