Highly porous electrodeposited zinc oxide films functionalized for red/green luminescence

A stepwise method for the preparation of red/green luminescent thin films based on zinc oxide and lanthanide-organic complexes is described. The synthesis of highly porous ZnO matrices is performed by electrodeposition with help of eosin Y molecules. The matrix is loaded with in situ assembled Ln(3+):dcbpy luminescent complexes (with Ln being Eu or Tb). The ligand is anchored to ZnO by its carboxylic acid groups. The film excitation and emission characteristics show UV absorption by the ligand at 310 nm and by ZnO below 250 nm with an efficient energy transfer to Ln(3+) for light emission.