Duarte Ananias

A Miniaturized Linear pH Sensor Based on a Highly Photoluminescent Self-Assembled Europium(III) Metal–Organic Framework†

The field of lanthanide-based metal–organic frameworks (LnMOFs) with twoor three-dimensional structures is rapidly growing because of the discovery of new crystalline structures that exhibit interesting properties and have potential applications in catalysis, sensors, contrast agents, non-linear optics, 22] displays, and electroluminescent devices. For photoluminescence applications, it is necessary to prepare lanthanide-containing materials with high quantum efficiencies, in order to achieve the required miniaturization and reduce energy losses from undesirable quenching processes. Moreover, it is highly desirable to combine the properties of ligands and antennae in one organic moiety. A well-known powerful sensitizing ligand for Eu ions in solution is 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (H2PhenDCA), in which both carboxylic and phenanthroline moieties may coordinate to the metal center. 27] The proximity between the coordinative parts means that this chelating agent has the tendency to form zero-dimensional (molecular) complexes that are useful in some solution-based analytical applications, but cannot be applied as solid sensors or light-emitting materials. Thus, it is of interest to obtain the twoor three-dimensional insoluble counterparts of these zero-dimensional water-soluble complexes. To achieve this goal, we have used hydrothermal synthesis, which is a powerful technique for the preparation of metastable compounds that may not be accessible by using conventional methods. 29] Hydrothermal synthesis also allows the use of chelating agents that are sparingly soluble in water at temperatures below 373 K, thus enhancing the lanthanidecoordinating ability of the ligand. Herein, we report the synthesis, structure, and sensing properties of a new Eu metal–organic framework ITQMOF-3-Eu (ITQMOF = Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica Metal Organic Framework) that contains the ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid. The excellent balance between absorption, energy transfer, and emission rate of the Eu ITQMOF-3 (ITQMOF-3-Eu) allowed the fabrication of a miniaturized pH sensor prototype that functions in the biologically interesting range (5–7.5). By combining this material and an optical fiber, a linear photoluminescence response, which also allows the self-calibration of the emitting signal within this pH range, was achieved. The ITQMOF-3Eu material was obtained by reacting the H2PhenDCA ligand and the Eu salt or oxide under hydrothermal conditions (see the Supporting Information). The crystal has a strong red luminescence under ultraviolet light (see Figure 1 a). Chemical and elemental analyses showed that the formula of the material is [Eu3(C14H6N2O4)4(OH)(H2O)4]·2 H2O.

All-In-One Optical Heater-Thermometer Nanoplatform Operative From 300 to 2000 K Based on Er3+ Emission and Blackbody Radiation

A single nanoplatform integrating laser-induced heat generation by gold nanoparticles and temperature sensing up to 2000 K via (Gd,Yb,Er)2 O3 nanorods is demonstrated, which presents considerable potential for nanoscale photonics and biomedicine. Blackbody emission is ascertained from the temperature increment with AuNP concentration, emission color coordinates as a function of the laser pump power, and Plancks law of blackbody radiation.

Multi-functional rare-earth hybrid layered networks: photoluminescence and catalysis studies

Hydrothermal reactions between rare-earth (RE) chloride salts and N-(carboxymethyl)iminodi(methylphosphonic acid) (H5cmp) led to the isolation of a series of layered networks formulated as [RE(H2cmp)(H2O)] [RE3+ = Y3+, La3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+ and Er3+]. All compounds were isolated as micro-crystalline powders (many of which were nano-sized in thickness), with the plate-like crystallites found to exhibit preferential growth perpendicular to the [002] vector, a feature which seems to favour catalytic performance. Full structural elucidation was attained by the combination of synchrotron radiation (micro-crystal and powder) diffraction data, solid-state NMR studies (1H, 13C and 31P) and photophysical measurements. Materials consist of ∞2[RE(H2cmp)(H2O)] layers in the ab plane of the unit cell, constructed from a single RE3+ centre (in a highly distorted dodecahedral coordination environment with one water molecule in the first coordination sphere) and one H2cmp3− ligand present in a zwitterionic form. Connections between layers along the c-axis are assured by strong and highly directional O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the protonated phosphonate group (donor) of one layer and one oxygen atom (acceptor) of the carboxylate group in the adjacent layer. The network is an unprecedented 12-connected uninodal plane net with total Schafli symbol 330.434.52. The Eu3+ material is photoluminescent at room temperature and 12 K with 5D0 lifetimes of 0.86 ± 0.01 ms and 0.89 ± 0.01 ms, respectively. Studies of the mixed-lanthanide diluted [(Gd0.95Eu0.05)(H2cmp)(H2O)] material showed that Gd3+-to-Eu3+ energy transfer occurs within the layers. The coordinated water molecule plays a decisive role in the non-radiative relaxation process of the Eu3+ emission. All synthesised materials were further tested in the cyclodehydration of xylose to furfural, with the observed results comparing quite favourably with those from other solid acid catalysts used in the same reaction under similar conditions. A detailed catalytic study was performed for [Y(H2cmp)(H2O)]: selectivity increased to 84% as the conversion reached 83%; this solid was also re-used successfully in three consecutive 4 h runs after separation from the liquid phase by centrifugation and regeneration using either thermal treatment at 280 °C or repeated washing with solvents. All materials have been routinely characterized using vibrational spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR and FT-Raman), thermogravimetric analyses, SEM investigations and CHN elemental composition.

Photoluminescent Thermometer Based on a Phase-Transition Lanthanide Silicate with Unusual Structural Disorder

The hydrothermal synthesis of the novel Na[LnSiO4] (Ln = Gd, Eu, Tb) disordered orthorhombic system is reported. At 100 K, and above, these materials are best described in the centrosymmetric orthorhombic Pnma space group. At lower temperatures (structure solved at 30 K) the unit cell changes to body-centered with Imma symmetry. The materials exhibit unique photophysical properties, arising from both, this phase transformation, and the disorder of the Ln(3+) ions, located at a site with D2d point symmetry. Na[(Gd0.8Eu0.1Tb0.1)SiO4] is an unprecedented case of a luminescent ratiometric thermometer based on a very stable silicate matrix. Moreover, it is the first example of an optical thermometer whose performance (viz., excellent sensitivity at cryogenic temperatures <100 K) is determined mainly by a structural transition, opening up new opportunities for designing such devices.

Thermal Transformation of a Layered Multifunctional Network into a Metal–Organic Framework Based on a Polymeric Organic Linker

The preparation of layered [La(H(3)nmp)] as microcrystalline powders from optimized microwave-assisted synthesis or dynamic hydrothermal synthesis (i.e., with constant rotation of the autoclaves) from the reaction of nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (H(6)nmp) with LaCl(3)·7H(2)O is reported. Thermogravimetry in conjunction with thermodiffractometry showed that the material undergoes a microcrystal-to-microcrystal phase transformation above 300 °C, being transformed into either a three-dimensional or a two-dimensional network (two models are proposed based on dislocation of molecular units) formulated as [La(L)] (where L(3-) = [-(PO(3)CH(2))(2)(NH)(CH(2)PO(2))O(1/2)-](n)(3n-)). The two crystal structures were solved from ab initio methods based on powder X-ray diffraction data in conjunction with structural information derived from (13)C and (31)P solid-state NMR, electron microscopy (SEM and EDS mapping), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermodiffractometry, and photoluminescence studies. It is shown that upon heating the coordinated H(3)nmp(3-) anionic organic ligand undergoes a polymerization (condensation) reaction to form in situ a novel and unprecedented one-dimensional polymeric organic ligand. The lanthanum oxide layers act, thus, simultaneously as insulating and templating two-dimensional scaffolds. A rationalization of the various steps involved in these transformations is provided for the two models. Photoluminescent materials, isotypical with both the as-prepared ([(La(0.95)Eu(0.05))(H(3)nmp)] and [(La(0.95)Tb(0.05))(H(3)nmp)]) and the calcined ([(La(0.95)Eu(0.05))(L)]) compounds and containing stoichiometric amounts of optically active lanthanide centers, have been prepared and their photoluminescent properties studied in detail. The lifetimes of Eu(3+) vary between 2.04 ± 0.01 and 2.31 ± 0.01 ms (considering both ambient and low-temperature studies). [La(H(3)nmp)] is shown to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst in the ring opening of styrene oxide with methanol or ethanol, producing 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol or 2-ethoxy-2-phenylethanol, respectively, in quantitative yields in the temperature range 40-70 °C. The material exhibits excellent regioselectivity to the β-alkoxy alcohol products even in the presence of water. Catalyst recycling and leaching tests performed for [La(H(3)nmp)] confirm the heterogeneous nature of the catalytic reaction. Catalytic activity may be attributed to structural defect sites. This assumption is somewhat supported by the much higher catalytic activity of [La(L)] in comparison to [La(H(3)nmp)].

Molecule-like Eu3+-dimers embedded in an extended system exhibit unique photoluminescence properties.

Much is known about the photoluminescence of lanthanide-containing systems, particularly amorphous silicates or organic-inorganic hybrids and crystalline metal-organic frameworks. Comparatively, stoichiometric microporous Ln-silicates are poorly studied. Here, we report the exceptional photoluminescence of microporous AV-24, K(7)[Ln(3)Si(12)O(32)] x xH(2)O (Ln(3+) = Sm(3+), Eu(3+), Gd(3+), Tb(3+)), the first silicate possessing Ln(3+)-O-Ln(3+) dimers (inter-Ln distance ca. 3.9 A), i.e., two edge-sharing {LnO(6)} octahedra embedded in a crystalline matrix. It is totally unprecedented that in AV-24 Eu(3+)-O-Eu(3+) dimers behave like discrete entities, i.e., molecules: they (i) have a unique emission signature, with pseudopoint group symmetry (C(i)), different from the symmetry (C(1)) of each individual constituent Eu(3+) ion, and (ii) exhibit the unusually long (5)D(0) lifetime of 10.29 ms (12 K). In accord with the experimental evidence, a molecular orbital model shows that the Eu(3+)-O-Eu(3+) dimers are energetically more stable than the individual metal ions.

Lanthanide-polyphosphonate coordination polymers combining catalytic and photoluminescence properties.

A rapid, mild and high-yield microwave synthesis of 1D isotypical [Ln(H4bmt)(H5bmt)(H2O)2]·3H2O coordination polymers is presented. The La(3+)-based material is highly active as a heterogeneous catalyst in the methanolysis of styrene oxide at nearly room temperature. Eu(3+)- and Tb(3+)-doped materials are very effective UV-to-visible light converters.

Energy-transfer from Gd(III) to Tb(III) in (Gd,Yb,Tb)PO4 nanocrystals.

The photoluminescence properties of (Gd,Yb,Tb)PO4 nanocrystals synthesized via a hydrothermal route at 150 °C are reported. Energy-transfer from Gd(3+) to Tb(3+) is witnessed by the detailed analyses of excited-state lifetimes, emission quantum yields, and emission and excitation spectra at room temperature, for Tb(3+) concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 mol%. Absolute-emission quantum yields up to 42% are obtained by exciting within the (6)I7/2-17/2 (Gd(3+)) manifold at 272 nm. The room temperature emission spectrum is dominated by the (5)D4 → (7)F5 (Tb(3+)) transition at 543 nm, with a long decay-time (3.95-6.25 ms) and exhibiting a rise-time component. The (5)D3 → (7)F6 (Tb(3+)) rise-time (0.078 ms) and the (6)P7/2 → (8)S7/2 (Gd(3+)) decay-time (0.103 ms) are of the same order, supporting the Gd(3+) to Tb(3+) energy-transfer process. A remarkably longer lifetime of 2.29 ms was measured at 11 K for the (6)P7/2 → (8)S7/2 (Gd(3+)) emission upon excitation at 272 nm, while the emission spectrum at 11 K is dominated by the (6)P7/2 → (8)S7/2 transition line, showing that the Gd(3+) to Tb(3+) energy-transfer process is mainly phonon-assisted with an efficiency of ~95% at room temperature. The Gd(3+) to Tb(3+) energy transfer is governed by the exchange mechanism with rates between 10(2) and 10(3) s(-1), depending on the energy mismatch conditions between the (6)I7/2 and (6)P7/2 levels of Gd(3+) and the Tb(3+ 5)I7, (5)F2,3 and (5)H5,6,7 manifolds and the radial overlap integral values.

Multi-functional metal–organic frameworks assembled from a tripodal organic linker

The reaction between (benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(methylene))triphosphonic acid (H6bmt) and lanthanide chlorides, under typical hydrothermal conditions (180 °C for 3 days) or using microwave heating (5 minutes above 150 °C), led to the isolation of an isotypical series of compounds formulated as [Ln2(H3bmt)2(H2O)2]·H2O [where Ln3+ = La3+ (1), Ce3+ (2), Pr3+ (3), Nd3+ (4), (La0.95Eu0.05)3+ (5) and (La0.95Tb0.05)3+ (6)]. Compounds 1 to 4 have been readily isolated as large single-crystals and their structures determined in the monoclinic C2/c space group using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds were thoroughly characterized in the solid-state using powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM and EDS) and elemental analysis. Solid-state NMR (31P MAS and 13C{1H} CP MAS) and thermodiffractometry studies have been performed on the La3+-based material. [Ln2(H3bmt)2(H2O)2]·H2O were found to be three-dimensional frameworks with water molecules (both of crystallization and coordinated to the lanthanide center), which could be reversibly removed by either heating the materials or by applying high vacuum. This typical zeolitic behaviour was confirmed experimentally by determining the crystal structure of the evacuated La3+-based material (1-dehyd) using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This series of materials was found to exhibit dual functionality: photoluminescence and catalytic activity. Small amounts (5%) of Eu3+ and Tb3+ cations were engineered into the La3+-based matrices, promoting the isolation of optically active materials. The H6−xbmtx− residues were found to be good sensitizers of Tb3+, with 6 having the remarkable absolute emission quantum yield of ca. 46% (at 280 nm excitation). The zeolitic properties of the Eu3+-based material allowed an increase of the quantum efficiency from ca. 15% to 54% by removing under vacuum all water molecules in the material. Based on studies of the La3+-based material, these compounds can be employed as effective heterogeneous catalysts in the ring-opening reaction of styrene oxide with methanol, showing excellent regioselectivity, recyclability and structural stability in consecutive catalytic runs.

Multifunctional micro- and nanosized metal–organic frameworks assembled from bisphosphonates and lanthanides

Phase-pure and highly crystalline [Ln(Hpmd)(H2O)] materials [where Ln3+ = Eu3+ (1), Gd3+ (2) and Tb3+ (3); H4pmd = 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)diphosphonic acid] were prepared by using three distinct approaches: (i) conventional hydrothermal synthesis (180 °C, 3 days); (ii) microwave-assisted heating (50 W irradiation power, 40 °C, 5 seconds; nano-sized aggregates with sizes ranging between 100 and 150 nm); and (iii) ultrasound-assisted synthesis which, for highly diluted reactive mixtures (Ln3+ : H4pmd : H2O of 1 : 1 : 7200), permitted the preparation of isolated nano-crystals at ambient temperature with 5 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation. Compounds were structurally characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (Rietveld refinement and variable-temperature studies), thermogravimetry, vibrational spectroscopy, elemental analysis and electron microscopy (SEM and EDS). The magnetic behavior of 1 and 2 was investigated between ambient temperature and ca. 2 K revealing that the Ln3+ cations act as isolated centers. A strategy to calculate the vibrational spectra of MOF structures and based on the known embedded-clusters approach is proposed and applied to [Ln(Hpmd)(H2O)]. This allowed the identification, along with deuteration of the materials, of the vibrational modes of the confined water molecule in the structure. Compound 1 was tested in the methanolysis of styrene oxide at 55 °C: it is shown that microcrystalline 1 (1-m) does not possess significant catalytic activity; on the other hand, the nano-sized counterpart (1-n) exhibits relatively high catalytic activity and excellent selectivity to 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol (100% yield within 48 h of reaction time). Photoluminescence studies both at ambient and low temperatures showed, on the one hand, that bulk materials are composed of a single lanthanide site and, on the other hand, that the organic linker is a suitable sensitizer of Tb3+ (absolute quantum yield of ca. 14% for 3). It is further demonstrated that the coordinated water molecule has a pivotal role in the quenching of the photoluminescence of Eu3+ in 1: deuteration of the material results in a ca. 3.4 times improvement of the decay time (e.g., at 300 K the lifetime improves from 0.58 ± 0.01 ms to 1.98 ± 0.01 ms).