The preparation and performance of visible-light-sensitized luminescent nanoparticles based on europium complex

Long-wavelength-sensitized luminescent materials are desired for bio-detection. In this paper, we prepared a new kind of luminescent europium nanoparticles by a co-precipitation-condensation method. The luminescent europium complex Eu(tta)3·bpt (tta = thenoyltrifluoroacetonate; bpt = 2-(N,N-di-ethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine) was used as the active material, being encapsulated in the nanoparticles formed from 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTS) and poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) [P(ST-co-MMA)]. The prepared nanoparticles not only can be well dispersed in water but also were of high photostability. Importantly, the nanoparticles displayed maximal excitation wavelength at 425 nm as well as an extended excitation wavelength up to 480 nm and a quantum yield for Eu3+ luminescence of 0.22 (λex = 425 nm, room temperature).

Graphical abstractA new kind of luminescent europium nanoparticles was prepared by the co-precipitation-condensation method. These nanoparticles exhibited excellent watersolubility, photostability and long-wavelength sensitized luminescence properties.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide