Tunable emissions in lanthanide-based supramolecular metallogels

Abstract

We have developed a tunable emissive supramolecular metallo-gel functionalized with lanthanide coordination bonds using a low molecular weight gelator 1 having terminal terpyridine. In the presence of Tb(III) and Eu(III) ions, the coordination of lanthanides to gelator 1 results in green and red emissive supramolecular metallogels, respectively. A supramolecular growth mechanism of 1-Tb that follows an isodesmic model has been observed, relying on delicate balances between non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, controlling the stoichiometry of lanthanide metal ions with respect to 1 : Tb(III) : Eu(III) leads to yellow and white light-emitting supramolecular bimetallic gels.