Ligand sensitized luminescence of uranyl by benzoic acid in acetonitrile medium: A new luminescent uranyl benzoate specie

•Uranyl luminescence is sensitized by benzoic acid in acetonitrile medium.•UV–Vis and luminescence spectroscopy is used to characterize uranyl benzoate at different uranyl to benzoate ratio.•The specie formed is [UO2(C6H5COO)3]−, which is highly luminescent.•Acetonitrile plays an important role in the sensitized luminescence by forming tris complex of uranyl.

Benzoic acid (BA) is shown to sensitize and enhance the luminescence of uranyl ion in acetonitrile medium. Luminescence spectra and especially UV–Vis spectroscopy studies reveal the formation of tri benzoate complex of uranyl i.e. [UO2(C6H5COO)3]− which is highly luminescent. In particular, three sharp bands at 431, 443, 461 nm of absorption spectra provides evidence for tri benzoate specie of uranyl in acetonitrile medium. The luminescence lifetime of uranyl in this complex is 68 μs which is much more compared to the lifetime of uncomplexed uranyl (20 μs) in acetonitrile medium. In contrary to aqueous medium where uranyl benzoate forms 1:1 and 1:2 species, spectroscopic data reveal formation of 1:3 complex in acetonitrile medium. Addition of water to acetonitrile results in decrease of luminescence intensity of this specie and the luminescence features implode at 20% (v/v) of water content. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the existence of [UO2(C6H5COO)3]− specie in acetonitrile is reported. Mechanism of luminescence enhancement is discussed.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide