Tunable white-light emission hybrids based on lanthanide complex functionalized poly (ionic liquid): Assembly and chemical sensing

A series of novel poly (ionic liquid) based lanthanide hybrid materials POSS-PVIM@[Ln (DBM)3] (Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd, DBM = Dibenzoyl methane, PVIM = Polyvinyl imidazole, POSS = polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.) have been synthesized by the copolymerization of POSS with lanthanide functionalized ionic liquid [Ln (DBM)3]@VIM-PA. The obtained hybrids were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, XPS, TGA and luminescence spectroscopy. POSS-PVIM@ [Eu (DBM)3] and POSS-PVIM@[Tb (DBM)3] exhibit the characteristic emission of center ions, which indicate that POSS-PVIM could effectively sensitize Eu3+ and Tb3+. More Especially, the luminescent color can be tuned into white excited at 300 nm UV when the ratio of three different lanthanide cations (Eu3+, Tb3+, Gd3+) is 1:3:3. Furthermore, the luminescence films are also prepared, which shows the uniformity and transparency. Light and thermal stability of these as-obtained samples are also improved due to the long chain structure of polymer and rigid skeleton of POSS. In addition, the fluorescent sensing property of the POSS-PVIM@[Eu (DBM)3] was investigated in detail, which shows selective luminescence quenching effect for Cr2O72-−. These results provide meaningful data for the multi-component assembly and responsive luminescent of photo functional hybrids based on Poly (ionic liquid) and lanthanide, which can be expected to have potential application in the luminescent sensor devices. •A novel poly (ionic liquid) based lanthanide hybrid materials POSS-PVIM@ [Ln(DBM)3] are synthesized.•The white-emission was obtained by adjusting the ratio of Ln3+.•Low detection limit of POSS-PVIM@ [Eu(DBM)3] for Cr2O72- was 0.68 μM.•Good stability in aqueous environment, fast response time to water samples.