Synthesis, Spectral Characterization and Potential Fluorescent Properties of Three Lanthanide(III) Ions Complexes...

Three new solid lanthanide complexes with nalidixic acid (HNal) with the stoichiometry [Ln(Nal)₃]·5·.5H₂O (Ln = Tb, Dy and Ho) were synthesized applying the green synthesis method from the aqueous solutions without the organic solvent addition and fully characterized by the elemental analysis, XRF, complexometric titration, gravimetric analysis, molar conductivity and solubility measurements, powder X-Ray diffraction, UV-Vis and infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. Moreover, the luminescent properties of the Tb(III), Dy(III), and Ho(III) complexes in the solid state and in the solutions were investigated. On the basis of the detailed spectral analysis, it was concluded that the nalidixate ligands bind to the lanthanide ions by the bidentate carboxylate and carbonyl groups while water molecules belong to the outer coordination sphere. At the excitation of UV light, the complexes exhibited characteristic emission of central lanthanide ions, the intensity of which depends significantly on the excitation wavelength and/or the solvent. Thus, the application of nalidixic acid (apart from biological activity) for the synthesis of luminescent lanthanide complexes was confirmed which can find potential applications in the field of photonic devices and/or bioimaging agents.