Study of yellow luminescence of binary terbium complexes based on 3,3',4,4'-biphthalic anhydride

Three novel binary Tb(III) complexes (TbL2, TbL, and Tb2L; L=3,3',4,4'-biphenyl tetracarboxylic ligand) were synthesized by changing the molar ratio of Tb(III) to 3,3',4,4'-biphthalic anhydride (BPDA) (1∶2, 1∶1, and 2∶1, respectively). IR spectra indicate that there are two coordination modes of the carboxylate ligands with Tb3+ ions in the complexes. Most of them are in bridging mode; the others are in chelating mode. These complexes all have good thermal stability. The photophysical properties of these complexes are studied in detail using UV absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and transient fluorescence spectra. The results indicate that the photoluminescence properties of the complexes depend strongly on the molar ratio of Tb(III) to BPDA. When the molar ratio of Tb(III) to BPDA is 1∶1, complex TbL exhibits the strongest yellow light emission among the three Tb(III) complexes. However, complex Tb2L exhibits a weaker yellowish-green light emission when the molar ratio of Tb(III) to BPDA is 2∶1. The phenomenon of the yellow emission from terbium complexes is rarely reported.