Luminescence thermochromism in novel mixed Eu(II)-Cu(I) iodide.

A new mixed Eu(II)-Cu(I) iodide [Eu(DME)4][Cu2I4] (1) was synthesized by the reaction of an organosulphide salt of Eu(II) and CuI in DME media. X-ray analysis revealed that 1 is an ate-complex consisting of Eu(DME)4 dications and tetraiododicuprate dianions. Upon UV light excitation (λ = 365 nm), the compound exhibits intense double-peaked photoluminescence (PL) at 445 and 500 nm. The relative intensity of these peaks changes dramatically when the temperature changes in the range of 180-250 K. To understand the nature of the found PL thermochromism, the structure and time-resolved PL of 1 were studied at various temperatures. The time-resolved PL studies of 1 at various temperatures revealed the presence of two luminescent centers which are excited by the capture of an electron from the conduction band. The ratio of intensities at 445 and 500 nm (R = I445/I500) in the PL spectra of 1 changes by almost two orders of magnitude and the relative sensitivity S (S = (∂R/∂T)/R) exceeds 5% per K in the range of 190-245 K that makes this compound a promising luminescent thermometer for the range where ammonia exists in a liquid state.

Synthesis, structure and long-lived NIR luminescence of lanthanide ate complexes with perfluorinated 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

To obtain new efficient lanthanide-based NIR luminophores perfluorinated 2-mercaptobenzothiazole was used as a ligand. The ate-complexes [(Ln(mbtF)4)-(Na(DME)3)+] of Nd (1), Sm (2), Tb (3), Er (4), Yb (5) and [(Y(mbtF)4)-(Li(DME)3)+] (6) were synthesized in high yields by the reactions of the respective silylamide compounds Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 and M[N(SiMe3)2] (M = Li, Na) with 4,5,6,7-tetrafluoro-1,3-benzothiazol-2(3H)-thione (HmbtF) in DME media. The complexes 1-3 and 6 were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. It has been shown that the mbtF ligands sensitize the luminescence of Nd, Sm, Tb, Er and Yb ions upon mild UV or blue light excitation. The NIR luminescence of crystalline compounds 1, 2, 4 and 6 has been studied by time-resolved techniques. As expected, the compounds exhibit prolonged NIR luminescence due to the removal of C-H groups from lanthanide centers and the absence of C-O bonds in the coordination sphere of the lanthanides. The synthesized compounds are promising materials for NIR laser applications.

Cerium(iii) complexes with azolyl-substituted thiophenolate ligands: synthesis, structure and red luminescence.

In order to obtain molecular Ce(iii) complexes which emit red light by f-d transitions the azolyl-substituted thiophenolates were used as the ligands. The thiophenolate Ce(iii) complexes were synthesized by the reaction of Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3 with respective thiophenols 2-(2'-mercaptophenyl)benzimidazole (H(NSN)), 2-(2'-mercaptophenyl)benzoxazole (H(OSN)) and 2-(2'-mercaptophenyl)benzothiazole (H(SSN)) in DME media. The structures of the benzimidazolate (Ce(NSN)3(DME)) and benzothiazolate (Ce(SSN)3(DME)) derivatives were determined by X-ray analysis which revealed that the cerium ion in the molecules is coordinated by one DME and three anionic thiophenolate ligands. The lanthanum complex La(OSN)3(DME) has been synthesized similarly and structurally characterized. It was found that the solids of Ce(SSN)3(DME) and Ce(OSN)3(DME) exhibit a broad band photoluminescence peaking at 620 nm which disappears upon solvatation. With an example of OSN derivatives it was proposed that this behaviour is caused by the blue shift of the f-d transition of Ce3+ ions.