Facile shape-controlled synthesis of luminescent europium benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate architectures at room temperature

Abstract

The large-scale synthesis of the metal–organic framework Eu(1,3,5–BTC)·6H₂O nanocrystallites with delicate morphologies such as sheaflike, butterflylike, and flowerlike superstructures composed of nanowires have been realized via a simple solution phase method at room temperature. Time-dependent experiments indicate that these superstructures were constructed by the splitting crystal growth mechanism, as has been noted in some minerals in nature. The synthetic parameters such as reaction time, concentration and molar ratio of reactants, surfactant, and reaction temperature all affected the morphology of the Eu(1,3,5–BTC)·6H₂O architectures. These well-arranged architectures exhibit red emission corresponding to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition of the Eu³⁺ ions under UV light excitation, and the lifetime is determined to be about 0.22 ms.