Structural analysis of an Europium-Sodium complex containing 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone and succinimide as ligands, a highly photoluminescent material

•Europium sodium thenoyltrifluoroacetone complex•Photoluminescence emission properties•X-ray crystal structure•Assembly europium sodium chains through hydrogen bonds•Effect of bridge formation on optical properties A highly photoluminescent complex containing europium, succinimide (SI) and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) as ligands, was prepared. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex revealed an Eu-Na structure where the europium and sodium ions are bridged by TTA ligands with an additional SI molecule coordinated to the sodium ion. The europium ion is octa-coordinated with four TTA molecules. The complex forms a linear assembly through the formation of hydrogen bonds. The complex showed photoluminescence with an effective quantum yield of 72 ±1.7% and a lifetime of 0.84 ms, these values are one of the highest reported until now. The photobleaching effect was reduced 16% in comparison with EuTTA3(H2O) complexes. [Display omitted]