Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescence of Mixed-Ligand Lanthanide Trifluoroacetates

A series of new mixed-ligand lanthanide trifluoroacetates of formula Ln(4-cpno)(tfa)₃(H₂O)·H₂O (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; 4-cpno = 4-cyanopyridine N-oxide; tfa = trifluoroacetate) is reported. Trifluoroacetates were synthesized as chemically pure polycrystalline solids and their crystal structures were probed using single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Ln(4-cpno)(tfa)₃(H₂O)·H₂O solids make up an isostructural series in which LnO₈ polyhedra are bridged by 4-cpno to form edge-sharing dimers. Trifluoroacetato connects these dimers to yield chains whose three-dimensional packing is governed by hydrogen bonds established between 4-cpno, trifluoroacetato, and water. 4-cpno serves as an efficient sensitizer of lanthanide-centered luminescence. UV excitation of its singlet manifold and subsequent energy transfer to the 4f levels of the lanthanides yield orange (Sm), red (Eu), green (Tb), and yellow (Dy) emissions. Sensitization efficiencies reach 81 and 64% for Eu and Tb hybrids, respectively. Tb(4-cpno)(tfa)₃(H₂O)·H₂O displays a quantum yield of 52%, which coupled to the high absorptivity of 4-cpno, makes it a bright-green emitter under 292 nm excitation. Lanthanide trifluoroacetates may therefore serve as hybrid solid-state light emitters provided that adequate sensitizers are identified.