Crystal structure and photo- and electroluminescent properties of a “sandglass” terbium cluster

The synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of [Tb{Tb4(hpmba)8(μ3-ΟΗ)4(μ4-ΟΗ)}2OH] (hpmba = 2-hydroxy-N-((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)benzamide) was presented. The crystal structure exhibits a novel sandglass-like nonanuclear structure. The complex is strongly emissive with the lifetime about 1.02 ms at 546 nm in CH3CN at 298 K. The ITO/PVK/complex/Al OLED with the compound as a light-emitting material has also been fabricated; it has a maximum electroluminescence intensity when the driving voltages were increased to 11 V.