Fluorescence and Judd-Ofelt analysis of rare earth complexes with maleic anhydride and acrylic acid

Two kinds of Eu-complexes, Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(AA) and Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(MA) (HTTA=2-Thenoyltrifluoroacetone, Phen=1,10- phenanthroline, AA=acrylic acid, MA=Maleic anhydride), which combined the excellent fluorescence properties of Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(H2O) and the reactivity of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride with radicals, were synthesized. The two complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on the data shown from the fluorescent spectra of the Eu-MA and Eu-AA complexes, the Ωλ (λ=2 and 4) experimental intensity parameters were calculated. The results demonstrated that the Ω2 intensity parameters for the two complexes were smaller than those for the Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(H2O) complex, indicating that a less symmetrical chemical environment existed in the complexes. It implied that the radiative efficiency of the 5D0 of these two complexes could be enhanced by ligand of MA and AA, respectively. The luminescent lifetime of the Eu-AA (τ=7.26×10−4 s) or Eu-MA complex (τ=8.12×10−4 s) was higher than that of the Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(H2O) complex, which was attributed to the substitution of the water molecule (H2O) in Eu(TTA)2(Phen)(H2O) by the MA or AA ligand.