Photofunctional Eu3+/Tb3+ organic–inorganic polymeric hybrid microspheres with covalently bonded resin hosts

Novel organic/inorganic/polymeric hybrid microspheres are constructed with rare earth complexes into polymer matrix through covalent bonds. Functional covalent polymer linkages (abbreviated as PAAR(MR)-M1(M2, M3)) are achieved from the functionalization of three 4-substituted aromatic carboxylic acid derivatives (4-aminobenzoic acid (M1), 4-mercapto benzoic acid (M2), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (M3)) with two polymer resins (para-alkoxy-benzyl alcohol resin (PAAR) or Merrifield resin (MR)), which are through nucleophilic substitution reaction between amino (mercapto and hydroxyl) groups of M1 (M2,M3) and methyl chloride groups of PAAR (MR). Furthermore, ternary rare earth polymeric hybrid microsphere (abbreviated as PAAR(MR)-M1-3-RE-Phen) are constructed through coordination bonds with covalent polymer linkages and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) as ligands. The physical characterization and particularly the photoluminescence property of them are studied in detail, which present the regular microsphere morphology and characteristic photoluminescence.

Graphical abstractNovel series of organic/inorganic/polymeric hybrid microspheres (abbreviated as PAAR(MR)-M1-3-RE-Phen) are constructed through coordination bonding, whose ligands are covalent polymer linkages and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Novel functionalized polymer microsphere. ► Functional resin. ► Luminescence in visible and near infrared region.