Luminescent materials derived from the surface-modification of Ln3+-doped zeolite L with a silylated terpyridine

Abstract Herein we report luminescent materials of Ln 3+ (Ln = Eu or Tb) doped disc shaped zeolite L crystals (Eu 3+ /ZLD, Tb 3+ /ZLD) modified with a silylated terpyridine (Terpy-Si). The modified crystals show bright red emission and green emission under UV-light irradiation due to the energy transfer from the Terpy-Si to the Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ ions. The obtained materials were characterized with FT-IR, SEM, XRD and elemental analysis. Luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the luminescence properties of the modified Eu 3+ (Tb 3+ )/ZLD crystals. The formation of europium(III) and terbium(III) Terpy-Si silicon complexes and energy transfer from Terpy-Si to Eu 3+ ions and Tb 3+ have been confirmed by luminescence spectroscopy.