Fluorescence enhancement of europium complex co-doped with terbium complex in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix

The enhanced fluorescence of Eu(DBM)3Phen(DBM: dibenzoylmethide; Phen: phenanthroline) by Tb(DBM)3Phen in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been studied. A combinatorial methodology was adopted to allow rapid optimization of the fluorescence enhancement conditions of thin-film samples in arrays of microwells. Based on Eu(DBM)3Phen doped PMMA, three material libraries were generated in order to compare the effects of species identity and Tb(DBM)3Phen content to the effect of other complexes containing enhancing ions (La3+, Gd3+, Dy3+, Y3+, Ce3+) on the luminescence efficiency of the Eu3+ complex in PMMA. The fluorescence enhancement of Eu(DBM)3Phen in PMMA is considered to originate from intramolecular and intermolecular energy transfer processes.