Fluorescence enhancement of samarium complex co-doped with terbium complex in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix

The fluorescence property of Sm(DBM)3phen- (DBM—dibenzoylmethide, phen—1,10-phenanthroline) and Tb(DBM)3phen-co-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was investigated. The excitation, emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime of the co-doped samples were examined. In the co-doped samples, the luminescence intensities of Sm3+ enhance with an increase of the Tb(DBM)3phen content and with a decrease of the Sm(DBM)3phen content. The reason for the fluorescence enhancement effect in the co-doped polymer is the intermolecular energy transfer. To give a vivid picture for this co-doped system, a model for the fluorescence enhancement of Sm(DBM)3phen- and Tb(DBM)3phen-co-doped PMMA is presented.