Introduction of Neodymium Ion (III) into Monomer and Polymer through Complexation with Phosphoric Acid Ester Used as a Ligand

Solubility of neodymium ion (III) into methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polyMMA (PMMA) was investigated. Methacrylic acid, di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, and methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate (PMOE) were chosen as candidates for ligands to solubilize the Nd3+ ion through complexation. Among them, only PMOE could effectively solubilize the Nd3+ ion into MMA and PMMA. PMOE has phosphate and methacryloyl groups, and these groups were considered to play a role as coordination sites to form a compact complex structure with low molecular weight. PMMA containing the Nd3+ ion demonstrated high transparency and a characteristic absorption attributed to the Nd3+ ion.