Novel luminescent hybrids prepared by incorporating a rare earth ternary complex into CdS QD loaded zeolite Y crystals through coordination reaction

Abstract

A novel type of organic–inorganic zeolite-based hybrid material with excellent luminescence properties was synthesized. Firstly, we synthesized CdS QD loaded zeolite crystals as a hybrid matrix through ethanol solution reaction of sulfide ions and cadmium exchanged zeolite crystals. After that, we functionalized the CdS QD loaded zeolites with three different mercaptan acids: thiosalicylic acid (o-MBA), 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA), and mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), and then the mercaptan acid modified CdS QD loaded zeolite and 1,10-phenanthroline were applied to coordinate with rare earth ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺). Accordingly, the final hybrid materials were formed by a mild coordination reaction. Fluorescence spectra were used to investigate the photophysical properties of hybrid materials, which indicate that the emission spectra of obtained hybrid materials vary due to the different degrees of matching between the triplet energy level of all three mercaptan acids and the excited energy level of rare earth ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺). Further, findings also reveal that the photoluminescence color can be tuned from white or pink to red by changing the coordinated mercaptan acid. Among the obtained materials, the europium, mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) and 1,10-phenanthroline ternary complex functionalized CdS–ZY showed remarkable luminescence quantum yields and relatively long ⁵D₀ lifetimes at room temperature.