Preparation, characterization and luminescence properties of core-shell ternary terbium composites SiO@Tb(MABA-Si)•L.

Two novel core-shell structure ternary terbium composites SiO@Tb(MABA-Si)·L(L:dipy/phen) nanometre luminescence materials were prepared by ternary terbium complexes Tb(MABA-Si)·L·(ClO)·2HO shell grafted onto the surface of SiO microspheres. And corresponding ternary terbium complexes were synthesized using (CONH(CH)Si(OCHCH)) (denoted as MABA-Si) as first ligand and L as second ligand coordinated with terbium perchlorate. The as-synthesized products were characterized by means of IR spectra, HNMR, element analysis, molar conductivity, SEM and TEM. It was found that the first ligand MABA-Si of terbium ternary complex hydrolysed to generate the Si-OH and the Si-OH condensate with the Si-OH on the surface of SiO microspheres; then ligand MABA-Si grafted onto the surface of SiO microspheres. The diameter of SiO core of SiO@Tb(MABA-Si)·L was approximately 600 nm. Interestingly, the luminescence properties demonstrate that the two core-shell structure ternary terbium composites SiOTb(MABA-Si)·L(dipy/phen) exhibit strong emission intensities, which are 2.49 and 3.35 times higher than that of the corresponding complexes Tb(MABA-Si)·L·(ClO)·2HO, respectively. Luminescence decay curves show that core-shell structure ternary terbium composites have longer lifetime. Excellent luminescence properties enable the core-shell materials to have potential applications in medicine, industry, luminescent fibres and various biomaterials fields.