Photofunctional binary and ternary Eu3+/Tb3+ hybrid materials with copolymer linkage methacrylic acid–vinyltrimethoxysilane and 1,10-phenanthroline

Copolymer (VTMS-co-MAA) is prepared through the addition polymerization reaction between methacrylic acid (MAA) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), which can be taken as the functional bridge molecule to assemble the covalently bonded silica/polymer hybrid materials through the coordination reaction between rare earth ions (Eu3+, Tb3+) and carboxyl groups of MAA and hydrolysis and polycondensation processes between VTMS and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) is employed as the second ligand to sensitize the luminescence of rare earth ions by intramolecular energy transfer process. Scanning electronic microscopy micrographs display that a self-assembly process exists in hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions. Photoluminescent properties indicate that the silica/polymer hybrid materials with Phen exhibit long life time and high quantum efficiency.