Bright red luminescence and triboluminescence from PMMA-doped polymer film materials supported by Eu3+-triphenylphosphine based β-diketonate and 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene oxide

• A new β-diketonate ligand developed for the sensitization of Eu3+.
• The developed europium complex embedded into PMMA polymer films display bright red luminescence and triboluminescence in the daylight.
• The developed polymer films are thermally stable.
• Excellent agreement between the experimental and theoretical photophysical properties.

Herein, a new β-diketonate ligand, namely, 1-(4-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentane-1,3-dione (DPPFH) has been synthesized and utilized for the construction of an antenna complex of Eu3+ [Eu(DPPF)3(DDXPO)] in the presence of a chelating ligand, 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene oxide (DDXPO). The developed Eu3+ compound has been well characterized and investigated the photophysical properties. The designed Eu3+ complex displays bright red luminescence upon irradiation at the ligand-centered band at 375 nm with a quantum yield of 39% in the solid-state. Interestingly, the ternary Eu3+ complex also exhibits brilliant triboluminescence in the daylight, which could be useful in the design of pressure and damage detection probes. In addition, the newly obtained Eu3+ complex was embedded into a PMMA matrix to form highly luminescent films having quantum yields as high as 45–50%. These plastic materials display enhanced thermal stability as compared to parent compound. The ground state coordination geometry of the typical Eu3+ complex was calculated using the Sparkle/RM1 model. The excellent agreement between the experimental and theoretically predicted photophysical data, attesting the efficacy of the theoretical approach implemented in the LUMPAC software (http://lumpac.pro.br).

PMMA-doped polymer film materials supported by Eu3+- triphenylphosphine based β-diketonate complex exhibit bright red luminescence and triboluminescence.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide