Preparation, characterization and luminescence properties of core–shell ternary terbium composites SiO(2(600))@Tb(MABA-Si)•L

Two novel core–shell structure ternary terbium composites SiO(2(600))@Tb(MABA-Si)·L(L:dipy/phen) nanometre luminescence materials were prepared by ternary terbium complexes Tb(MABA-Si)·L(2)·(ClO(4))(3)·2H(2)O shell grafted onto the surface of SiO(2) microspheres. And corresponding ternary terbium complexes were synthesized using (CONH(CH(2))(3)Si(OCH(2)CH(3))(3))(2) (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, (1)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(2) microspheres; then ligand MABA-Si grafted onto the surface of SiO(2) microspheres. The diameter of SiO(2) core of SiO(2(600))@Tb(MABA-Si)·L was approximately 600 nm. Interestingly, the luminescence properties demonstrate that the two core–shell structure ternary terbium composites SiO(2(600))Tb(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(2)·(ClO(4))(3)·2H(2)O, 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.