Tb<sup>3+</sup>/Eu<sup>3+</sup> Complex-Doped Rigid Nanoparticles in Transparent Nanofibrous Membranes Exhibit High Quantum Yield Fluorescence
Peng Lu,
Yanxin Wang,
Linjun Huang,
Sixian Lian,
Yao Wang,
Jianguo Tang,
Laurence A. Belfiore,
Matt J. Kipper
Affiliations
Peng Lu
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Yanxin Wang
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Linjun Huang
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Sixian Lian
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Yao Wang
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Jianguo Tang
Institute of Hybrid Materials, National Center of International Joint Research for Hybrid Materials Technology, National Base of International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation on Hybrid Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Laurence A. Belfiore
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Matt J. Kipper
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
In this study, transparent membranes containing luminescent Tb3+ and Eu3+ complex-doped silica nanoparticles were prepared via electrospinning. We prepared the electrospun fibrous membranes containing Tb(acac)3phen- (acac = acetylacetone, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and/or Eu(tta)3phen- (tta = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) doped silica (M-Si-Tb3+ and M-Si-Eu3+) and studied their photoluminescence properties. The fibrous membranes containing the rare earth complexes were prepared by electrospinning. The surface morphology and thermal properties of the fibrous membrane were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize the fluorescence properties of the membranes. During the electrospinning process, the PVDF transitions from the α phase to the β phase, which exhibits a more rigid structure. The introduction of rigid materials, like PVDF and silica, can improve the fluorescence properties of the hybrid materials by reducing the rate of nonradiative decay. So the emission spectra at 548 nm (Tb) and 612 nm (Eu) were enhanced, as compared to the emission from the pure complex. Furthermore, the fluorescence lifetimes ranged from 0.6 to 1.5 ms and the quantum yields ranged from 32% to 61%. The luminescent fibrous membranes have potential applications in the fields of display panels, innovative electronic and optoelectronic devices.
