Highly efficient near-infrared (NIR) luminescent tris-β-diketonate Yb3 + complex in solution and in PMMA

•Trifluorinated and acylpyrazole-modified β-diketonate Ln3 + complexes•Physical property in solution or PMMA•Sensitization for NIR luminescence

In the series of binary tris-β-diketonate complexes [Ln(L)3(Phen)] (HL = (Z)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethylidene)-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one; Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; Ln = La, 1; Ln = Nd, 2; Ln = Yb, 3; Ln = Er, 4 or Ln = Gd, 5), the relatively lower ligands-based 3ππ⁎ energy level (18,727 cm− 1) results in the highly efficient NIR luminescence (ФYbYb = 1.37% and ФYbL = 1.06%) of Yb3 +-based 3 in solution and the higher NIR quantum yield (ФYbYb = 1.77% and ФYbL = 1.31%) in PMMA (Poly(methyl methacrylate) besides the improved physical properties.

Graphical abstractFor [Yb(L)3(Phen)] (3) based on the trifluorinated and acylpyrazole-modified β-diketonate ligand HL and the rigid ancillary ligand Phen, the relatively lower ligands-based 3ππ* energy level results in its highly efficient NIR luminescence (ФYbYb = 1.37% and ФYbL = 1.06%) in solution, and improved physical property including more efficient NIR luminescent property (ФYbYb = 1.77% and ФYbL = 1.31%) in PMMA.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide