Bright near Infrared Neodymium Emission from Europium Sensitisation in β-Triketonate Coordination Polymers

Isomorphous β-triketonate-based lanthanoid polymers containing tris(4-methylbenzoyl)methane (mtbm) and RbOH with formula, {[Ln(Rb)(mtbm)4]2}n (Ln = Eu3+ and Nd3+) have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The photophysical properties for the Nd3+ complex presented long lifetimes and relatively high quantum yields in comparison with analogous β-diketonate complexes. Mixed lanthanoid complexes were also formed and their luminescence properties studied, with effective sensitisation of the 4F3/2 of Nd3+ via the 5D0 of Eu3+, which is to the best of our knowledge the first example of Eu3+ to Nd3+ sensitisation in coordination polymers