Reaction of two equivalents of [Ln(dbm)3(H2O)] (Ln = Sm/Eu/Gd) with one equivalent of 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) led to the formation of rare polynuclear complexes of the type [Ln(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n (dbm is the anion of 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione) instead of symmetrically bridged dinuclear complexes. The structure of the complexes has been established by the single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) method and shows that the coordination sphere is composed of a LnO6N2 core (octacoordinated). Shape analysis further revealed that the geometry around Ln(III) is distorted square anti-prismatic with SHAPE value 0.738 and 25.719 for [Sm(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n and [Eu(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of [Sm(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n and [Eu(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n are discussed in the solid-state and PMMA hybrid film (w/w 6%). By employing theoretical modelling in conjunction with the experimental PL data and crystal structure and an energy transfer (ET) mechanism for the sensitized PL of [Eu(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n is proposed and discussed in detail. Finally, the role of each ligand in sensitized PL of [Eu(dbm)3(4,4'-bpy)]n is calculated and discussed by the chemical partitions of the radiative decay.Graphical abstract.
Keywords: Intramolecular energy transfer mechanism; Photoluminescence; Polynuclear complexes; Samarium(III) and europium(III); β-diketone.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Photochemistry Association, European Society for Photobiology.