Synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of visible light excited Eu3+-β-diketonate complexes

Abstract

The fascinating photoluminescence properties of trivalent europium (Eu3+) coordination compounds have aroused tremendous interest in recent years due to their potential applications ranging from biomedical analysis to material science. The Eu3+ ions have excellent luminescent features such as long-lived excited-state lifetimes (μs–ms range) and narrow, easily recognizable line-like red emission bands with large Stokes shifts. A big challenge in the chemistry of lanthanide ions is to develop luminescent europium complexes that can be sensitized by visible-light. This field has become much more important because of the demand for less-harmful labelling reagents in the life sciences and lowvoltage- driven pure-red emitters in optoelectronic. Thus, the primary objective of the present research work is to design and develop novel visible-light sensitized Eu3+-β-diketonate complexes with impressive photophysical propertiesThe thesis comprises of four chapters which are presented as independent units and therefore the structure formulae, schemes, figures and references are numbered chapterwise. The introductory chapter highlights a background sketch of the use of β-diketonates as antenna ligands for Eu3+ ion, the recent developments in visible light excitable Eu3+-β-complexes and an overview of the various methods of synthesis of Eu3+-based silica hybrid materials, their photophysical properties and possible applications