In situ composition and luminescence of terbium coordination polymers/PEMA hybrid thick films

Abstract Some terbium coordination polymers with infinite chain polymeric structures were in situ composed with ethyl methacrylate (EMA). With the polymerization of EMA monomer and the formation of terbium coordination polymers of methylbenzoic acid and 2-chloro benzoic acid, the transparent hybrid thick films composed by [Tb(OMBA)3]n ([Tb(MMBA)3]n, [Tb(OCBA)3]n) and poly ethyl methacrylate (PEMA) have been achieved. The luminescence properties and energy transfer for these polymeric composite films were studied with absorption spectra, fluorescent excitation and emission spectra in detail. All the hybrid thick films composed with terbium coordination polymers show the characteristic strong green emission of terbium ions, which implies the same energy transfer mechanism as the pure complex and the hybrid composite film is a suitable substrate for the luminescence of terbium ions. In the range of composing concentration of luminescent species (0.005, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/7.5 ml EMA), emission intensities increases with the increasing of corresponding composing concentration and concentration quenching effect has not taken place.