New solid-state Eu(iii)-containing metallo-supramolecular polymers: morphology control and optical wave-guiding properties

Abstract

Herein, we report the solution phase self-assembly between Eu(III) and a rigid ditopic tridentate terpyridine ligand which results in the formation of supramolecular metallo-networks in the solid state. Depending on the ligand to metal ratio used for the initial self-assembly process, the morphology of these materials can be altered from one-dimensional micron-sized fibres to a three-dimensional coordination network. The terpyridine-based ditopic ligand can act as an efficient sensitizer for Eu(III) emission whereby the emission lifetimes and ligand triplet state energies of the metallo-polymers strongly depend on the ligand to metal ratio. The obtained micron-sized fibres can act as an efficient optical wave-guide for Eu(III) emission.