Highly efficient luminescent materials: Influence of the matrix on the photophysical properties of Eu(III) complex/polymer hybrids

Abstract Highly efficient luminescent materials based on the europium complex Eu(tta) 3 (phen) (tta = 2-thenoyltrifluoracetonato, Phen = 1,10-phenantroline) incorporated into different polymer matrixes (polyvinyl butyral, polysulfone and polyurethane) have been prepared. The photoluminescent hybrid films were prepared by solution mixing/drop casting which has been revealed as a very convenient method to prepare these polymeric materials because of the good homogeneous distribution of the Eu(III) complex into the polymer matrix. A detail analysis of the Fourier transform infrared spectra, UV/Vis spectra and photoluminescent properties is presented. These results agree with the conclusion that the polymer interact with the complex, act as antenna and transfer energy to the central Eu(III) ions. As a result of this interaction, the efficiencies of the doped films are dramatically enhanced (photoluminescence quantum yields in the range 58–86%) in comparison with that of the precursor complex. The luminescent Eu(tta) 3 (phen) complex-polymer hybrid materials developed in this study could be successfully applied in optical devices as polymer light-emitting diodes or active polymer optical fiber applications.