Synthesis, structural characterization, and photo and electroluminescence of a novel terbium(III) complex: {Tris(acetylacetonate) [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline}terbium(III)

Lanthanides ion complexes have been intensively investigated as light emitting materials due to their interesting photophysical properties, such as narrow line luminescence with a long lifetime, large Stokes shift and high luminescence quantum efficiency. Here we report the synthesis, structural and photophysical properties of a new Tb(III) complex. This complex showed strong photoemission of green light both in solution and in the solid state as well as the characteristic emission lines of the Tb(III) ion. The electroluminescence properties of the complex were also studied and we obtained bright green light emission through the use of a co-deposited structure. The fabricated device showed a typical diode behavior with a low threshold bias voltage (around 10 V).