Luminescent hybrid materials based on an europium organic complex and borate glasses.

Hybrid materials (HM) were synthesized by high temperature reactions of inorganic glass matrices with an organometallic phosphor; B 2 O 3 and 80PbF 2 –20B 2 O 3 were used as glassy matrices. The organometallic complex was tris(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl) butane-1,3-dionato-(1,10-phenanthroline) europium (III), (Eu(NTA) 3 (Phen)). The fabricated HMs were shaped as thin glassy plates. The PL spectra of HMs based on fused B 2 O 3 contained only the bands corresponding to Eu 3+ ion transitions and were similar to the spectra of the Eu(NTA) 3 (Phen) powder. For the HM made from an unfused B 2 O 3 , we observed the 503 nm PL band attributed to the ligand, but the Eu 3+ lines were more intense. The 80PbF 2 –20B 2 O 3 -based HM had a broad PL band (480 nm), which was more intense than the narrow Eu 3+ lines. To explain the obtained results, an exchange reaction that was accompanied by partial decomposition of the organic complex in the glass matrix was proposed. The Eu 3+ displacement in an oxide–fluoride environment led to a decreased PL intensity to values that have typically been attributed to Eu 3+ doped inorganic glasses. Simultaneously, the ligands formed complexes with Pb, which resulted in an increased PL intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]