Lanthanide-Containing Photoluminescent Materials: From Hybrid Hydrogel to Inorganic Nanotubes

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 17; no. 18; pp. 5180 - 5187
• Main Authors: Qiao, Yan, Lin, Yiyang, Zhang, Shaofei, Huang, Jianbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 26.04.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Chemistry; Emission; Emissions; Europium; Europium - chemistry; Fluorescence microscopy; hydrogel; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemical synthesis; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemistry; Hydrogels; Ions; lanthanide; Lanthanides; Lanthanoid Series Elements - chemistry; Luminescence; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Molecular Structure; Nanofibers; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nanotubes - chemistry; Photoluminescence; Self assembly; Sodium; Sulfides - chemical synthesis; Sulfides - chemistry
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201003255

Functional photoluminescent materials are emerging as a fascinating subject with versatile applicability. In this work, luminescent organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels are facilely designed through supramolecular self‐assembly of sodium cholate, and lanthanide ions such as Eu3+, Tb3+, and Eu3+/Tb3+. Fluorescence microscopy and TEM visualization demonstrates the existence of spontaneously self‐assembled nanofibers and 3D networks in hybrid hydrogel. Photoluminescence enhancement of lanthanide ions is realized through coordination with cholate and co‐assembly into 1D nanofibers, which can successfully shield the Eu3+ from being quenched by water. The photoluminescence emission intensity of a hybrid hydrogel exhibits strong dependence on europium/cholate molar ratio, with maximum emission appearing at a stoichiometry of 1:3. Furthermore, the emission color of a lanthanide–cholate hydrogel can be tuned by utilizing different lanthanide ions or co‐doping ions. Moreover, photoluminescent lanthanide oxysulfide inorganic nanotubes are synthesized by means of a self‐templating approach based on lanthanide–cholate supramolecular hydrogels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the lanthanide oxysulfide inorganic nanotubes are prepared in solution under mild conditions. Supramolecular hydrogels: Functional photoluminescent materials are emerging as a fascinating research subject with broad applicability. A luminescent organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogel was designed by using lanthanide–cholate supramolecular self‐assembly, which creates well‐defined 1D nanofibers. Photoluminescent oxysulfide inorganic nanotubes were synthesized for the first time based on a self‐templating approach toward supramolecular hydrogels.