Optical properties of a novel neodymium pentafluoropropionate binuclear complex

A novel neodymium pentafluoropropionate binuclear complex, Nd(C2F5COO)3Dipy (Dipy: 2,2′-dipyridyl), was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. At a concentration of 0.2 M in DMSO-d6, the Judd–Ofelt parameters (Ω2, Ω4, Ω6) were calculated from the UV–Vis spectrum. According to the small value of Ω2 and the zero splitting energy of 4F/3/2 level, a symmetric ligand field of the complex was confirmed in DMSO-d6. Strong emission of the complex in DMSO-d6 at 1057 nm with a decay time about 1.3 μs were detected when excited at 800 nm pumped by a laser diode. The stimulated emission cross-section of 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 fluorescence transition was 2.36 × 10−20 cm2 and comparable with some laser glasses, which indicated good radiative properties of this neodymium pentafluoropropionate binuclear complex in liquid matrix.