Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Hyperspectral Imaging as a Tool to Study Optical Anisotropy in Lanthanide-Based Molecular Single Crystals
Published on: April 14, 2020
Syntheses, structures and fluorescence properties of three rare-earth containing docosatungstates
Hailou Li1, Yajie Liu1, Rui Zheng1
1Henan Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate Chemistry, Institute of Molecular and Crystal Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, PR China.
Abstract:
Three rare-earth containing docosatungstates Na3H2[RE(H2O)4][RE(H2O)5]2[W22O74H2]·36H2O [RE=DyIII (1), HoIII (2), YIII (3)] have been synthesized by reaction of Na2WO4·2H2O, dimethylamine hydrochloride (DMAHC) and RE(NO3)3·6H2O in the aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1-3 are isomorphous and each molecular unit consists of a S-shaped docosatungstate [W22O74H2]14- polyoxoanion with two supporting [RE(H2O)5]3+ cations and one disordered [RE(H2O)4]3+ cation. The [W22O74H2]14- polyoxoanion can be viewed as combination of two hendecatungstate [W11O38H]9- subunits in the staggered fashion by sharing two μ2-O atoms. The TG curves of 1-3 reveal the one-step weight loss between 25°C to 700°C. Moreover, both 1 and 2 demonstrate the characteristic luminescence emission behaviors of the corresponding RE3+ ions and their lifetime decay curves can be well fitted to the double exponential function. In addition, the CIE chromaticity coordinates of 1 and 2 have been obtained based on their corresponding emission spectra, and their dominant wavelengths and color purities have been also calculated.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Valence Bond Theory
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Resonance and Hybrid Structures
Resonance Structures and Resonance Hybrids
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N–O and N=O bonds.
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

