Photoluminescent lanthanide complexes of Eu3+ and Tb3+ as central atoms and N6,N6'-diisopropyl-[2,2'-bipyridine]-6,6'-dicarboxamide as ligand were synthesized. The structure of these complexes was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. Bipyridinic ligands provide formation of coordinatively saturated complexes of lanthanide ions and strong photoluminescence (PL). The Eu3+- and Tb3+-complexes exhibit PL emission in the red and green regions observed at a 340 nm excitation. The quantum yield for the complexes was revealed to be 36.5 and 12.6% for Tb3+- and Eu3+-complexes, respectively. These lanthanide compounds could be employed as photoluminescent solid-state compounds and as emitting fillers in polymer (for example, polyethylene glycol) photoluminescent materials.
Keywords: europium; lanthanide complexes; photoluminescence; polyethylene glycol; structural features; terbium.