Synthesis and luminescent properties of organic-inorganic hybrid macroporous materials doped with lanthanide (Eu/Tb) complexes

Visible luminescent macroporous materials covalently bonded with europium and terbium complexes were prepared using polystyrene spheres (PS) as the template. Both of the obtained terbium(III) macroporous material (Tb(III)-M) and europium(III) macroporous material (Eu(III)-M) exhibit close-packed spherical porous structure according to the SEM images. Furthermore, their BET surface areas were determined by the N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The two samples show corresponding characteristic green and red luminescence, respectively. Moreover, IR spectra and photoluminescence (PL) properties suggest that the Tb/Eu(III) ions were coordinated with organic group grafted on macroporous matrix. The luminescent lifetimes were also measured. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.