Energy Transfer Processes in Tb(III)-Dibenzoylmethanate Complexes with Phosphine Oxide Ligands

The Tb3+-β-diketonate complexes [Tb(DBM)3L], [Tb(DBM)2(NO3)L2] and [Tb(DBM)(NO3)2(HMPA)2] (DBM = dibenzoylmethanate; L: TPPO = triphenylphosphine oxide or HMPA = hexamethylphosphine oxide) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), complexometric titration with EDTA and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the photoluminescence properties evaluated. The triplet state energies of the coordinated DBM ligands were determined using time-resolved phosphorescence spectra of analogous Gd3+ complexes. The results show that the energies increase along with the number of coordinated nitrate anions replacing the DBM ligand in the complexes. The luminescence spectra and emission lifetime measurements revealed that the ligand-to-metal energy transfer efficiency follows the same tendency. Unlike the tris-DBM complexes, bis- and mono-DBM presented high luminescence, and may act as promising candidates for preparation of the emitting layer of light converting molecular devices (LCMDs).