Manifestation of π-π stacking interactions in luminescence properties and energy transfer in aromatically-derived Tb, Eu and Gd tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes

Inorg Chem. 2015 Apr 6;54(7):3125-33. doi: 10.1021/ic502120g. Epub 2015 Mar 23.

Abstract

The three new complexes Tp(Py)Ln(CH3CO2)2(H2O) (Ln = Eu (1), Gd(2), or Tb (3)) were prepared and characterized crystallographically. In the crystal lattices of these complexes, separate molecules are connected in infinite chains by π-stacking interactions. Complexes 1 and 3 display intense photoluminescence and triboluminescence (red and green respectively), while compound 3 exhibits electroluminescence commencing at 9 V in an ITO/PVK/3/Al device (ITO = indium-tin oxide, PVK = poly(N-vinylcarbazole)). A series of Eu/Tb-doped Gd compounds was prepared by cocrystallization from mixtures of 1 and 2 or 2 and 3, respectively. It was shown that π-stacking interactions are involved in increasing the efficiency of energy transfer from the gadolinium complex to emitting [Tp(Py)Eu](2+) or [Tp(Py)Tb](2+) centers, and this energy transfer occurs through hundreds of molecules, resembling the process of energy harvesting in chloroplast stacks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Borates / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Energy Transfer
  • Erbium / chemistry*
  • Gadolinium / chemistry*
  • Lanthanoid Series Elements / chemistry
  • Luminescence
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry*
  • Terbium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Borates
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Lanthanoid Series Elements
  • Pyrazoles
  • tris(pyrazolyl)borate
  • Terbium
  • Erbium
  • Gadolinium