Preparation and luminescence properties of the mesoporous MCM-41s intercalated with rare earth complex

Rare earth complex Eu(DBM)3phen (DBM: dibenzoylmethane, phen: 1,10-phenanthroline) has been incorporated into unmodified MCM-41 and modified MCM-41s by aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) or N-[(3-triethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (TEPED). Thus, the assemblies of unmodified or modified MCM-41s with rare earth (RE) complex have been obtained. XRD spectra, NMR spectra, diffuse reflectance spectra, and the luminescence spectra were used to characterize the pure RE complex and the corresponding assemblies. The assemblies have better luminescence properties under UV irradiation, and their fluorescence lifetimes on the excited state are longer than that of the corresponding pure complex. The possible mechanisms are also discussed in the context.