Luminescence from lanthanide(3+) ions in solution

An over-view of recent work dealing with luminescence properties in solution of complexes of the lanthanide(3+) ions Nd3+, EU3+, Tb3+, Er3+ and Yb3+ in which an organic chromophore is attached to the metal centre as a sensitizer is given. The various factors that influence the metal-centred luminescence lifetime and intensity are discussed and illustrated with own results and recent literature examples. The VIS emitting metal ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ require sensitizers that absorb light in the UV or near UV range whereas VIS absorbing sensitizers can be used for the NIR emitting ions Nd3+, Er3+ and Yb3+. The latter type of complexes is currently of great interest because of potential applications as luminescent markers in biological systems. (c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005).