Near-infrared luminescent copolymerized hybrid materials built from tin nanoclusters and PMMA

Novel near-infrared (NIR) luminescent copolymerized hybrid materials were prepared by covalently grafting and physically doping Ln complexes (Ln = Er, Sm, Yb, and Nd) into a copolymer matrix built from nanobuilding blocks. The structures of the obtained hybrid materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In the photoluminescence studies, the hybrid materials showed characteristic NIR luminescence of corresponding Ln(3+) ions through intramolecular energy transfer from ligands to Ln(3+) ions. Transparent films of these materials can be easily prepared through spin-coating on indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses taking advantage of the matrix nature.