Synthesis, linear and nonlinear optical properties of DNA-CTMA/europium (III) complex

•Novel DNA-CTMA based materials with europium (III) were obtained.•Fluorescent properties of DNA-CTMA/Eu(III) systems were reported.•Large cubic susceptibility of DNA-CTMA/Eu(III) thin films was observed.•Highly luminescent Eu3+ thin films were obtained.

Novel deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) based materials, functionalized with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA) and europium - (1.10 - phenanthroline) triazotate complex [Eu(NO3)3phen] were synthesized and characterized for their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The obtained complexes were processed into good optical quality thin films by spin coating method. The measured absorption spectra and fluorescence bands of studied solutions indicated the incorporation of Eu(NO3)3phen into DNA-CTMA matrix. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of thin films were determined by the optical third-harmonic generation technique at 1 064.2 nm fundamental wavelength. A large cubic susceptibility of Eu complex is observed.