Synthesis, crystal structure and fluorescence of an unusual terbium carboxylate

A novel terbium-containing fluorescent material, [Tb(CH3COO)2(H2O)3]Cl (1), has been prepared by a facile approach, i.e. an ultrasonic synthesis. Compound 1 has been structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction and it crystallizes in the space group P21/n of the monoclinic system with four formula units in a cell. Compound 1 features a novel one-dimensional (1-D) chain-like structure. The 1-D chains are interconnected by hydrogen bonds to yield a 3-D supramolecular framework. Photoluminescent investigation reveals that compound 1 displays strong emission bands identified as the characteristic emissions of 5D4 → 7FJ (J = 3, 4, 5, 6) of Tb3+.