Luminescence enhancement of Eu(III) or Tb(III) complexes with organic ligands by Ln(III) (Ln  Y, La, Gd, Lu)

Abstract

Fluorescence enhancement of Eu(III)-(thenoyltrifluoroacetone)-phenanthroline in micelle solution and Tb(III)-benzoic acid in ethanol solution by adding other Ln(III) (Ln  Y, La, Gd, Lu) ions was investigated. From fluorescence excitation, emission and lifetime it was found that the enhancement of Eu(III) luminescence is due to energy transfer from the Ln(III) complex to the Eu(III) ion and the ‘wrapping effect’ of the Ln(III) complexes on the Eu(III) complex. Also, it was found that the enhanced Tb(III) luminescence is only attributed to energy transfer from the Ln(III) complexes to the Tb(III) complex.