Molecular assembly and photoluminescence of lanthanide/silicon[sbnd]oxygen network/poly-vinylphenylboronic functionalized SBA-15 hybrids

Abstract

Novel organic-inorganic mesoporous luminescent polymeric composite materials containing lanthanide (Eu3+, Tb3+) complexes covalently bonded to mesoporous silica have been prepared in situ, followed by the polymerization reaction of the monomer 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) extending along the mesoporous SBA-15 channels. The obtained materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet absorption spectra (UV), X-ray diffraction (SAXRD), N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry (TG), and luminescence spectroscopy in detail. These characterizations have proved that composite materials possess high surface area, uniform mesoporous structure, good crystallization and relatively excellent luminescence properties. The terminal ligand phen was used to investigate the difference of photo physical and luminescent properties between binary and ternary composite materials. Furthermore, the results have revealed that the composite material Eu(PVPBA-S15)3phen showed more efficient intramolecular energy transfer between the europium ion and the ligands, and more excellent characteristic emission of the europium ion under UV irradiation with higher 5D0 luminescence quantum efficiency than the composite materials Eu(PVPBA-S15)3 without phen. The excellent luminescence properties and ordered mesoporous structures could give rise to many potential applications in optical and electronic areas.