Color-tunable luminescent Tb_xEu_y(BDC) complexes assembled within liposome-based nanoreactors

Precise stoichiometric control in multimetallic lanthanide nanosystems is essential for optical devices, sensing, and bioimaging applications owing to their composition-dependent emission properties. However, controlling metal composition, spatial distribution, intermetallic energy transfer, and colloidal stability remains challenging. Here, we report a liposome-based nanoreactor platform that enables the in situ formation of multivariate Tb_xEu_y-dicarboxylate complexes, enabling finely tuned lanthanide stoichiometry within attoliter-scale confined volumes. Liposomes pre-loaded with specific Tb³⁺:Eu³⁺ ratios are combined with a synthetic anion transporter that mediates dicarboxylate transport through lipid membranes, enabling controlled coordination reactions in aqueous solution. This method, coupled with the use of a blue-emissive ligand, supports continuous color tuning across the entire RGB spectrum. Real-time emission spectroscopy reveals faster photoluminescence appearance for Eu³⁺ than Tb³⁺, providing experimental insight into lanthanide reactivity under nanoscale confinement. These findings position liposome-based nanoreactors as a versatile platform for investigating coordination reactions and engineering multimetallic luminescent colloidal materials in aqueous media.