Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for (Oxy)Nitride Phosphors
Published on: November 15, 2016
[Fluorescence studies on the mixed solid complexes of europium-terbium-1, 10-phenanthroline-phthalate systems]
1Department of Chemistry, Peking University, State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, 100871 Beijing.
Abstract:
The 1, 10-phenanthroline-phthalate complexes of europium and terbium have been synthesized. Two series of mixed complexes, mechanical ground complexes (series 1) and chemical synthesized with mixed EuCl3 and TbCl3 solutions (series 2), have been also prepared. Fluorescence studies on all of the samples were performed. The results of their fluorescence spectra excited by 365nm UV-light showed that there are interactions between europium ions and terbium ions in these two kinds of mixed complexes. Their fluorescence intensities strongly changed especially for chemical synthesized mixed complexes, in which the fluorescence intensities of europium ions were greatly sensitized by terbium ions and those of terbium ions were strongly quenched by europium ions. But the peak positions of their emission bands did not shift obviously. The structure of these complexes have been characterized by FT-IR spectra. The results suggested that no free COOH groups exist and all of the nitrogen atoms of 1, 10-phenanthroline molecules coordinate to rare earth ions in all of these complexes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Photoluminescence: Applications
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
A pair of electrons in a...
Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.

