Influences of matrices and concentrations on luminescent characteristics of Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2/polymer composites

Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2 (TTA: thenoyltrifluoroacetone) was doped in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinyl stearate) (PVS) with different molar ratios. The composites formed were investigated by using photoluminescent spectroscopy, luminescent decay experiments and X-ray diffractometry. It was found that the composites have distinct emission properties in different matrices, probably arising from various symmetrical sites of Eu(III) due to the interactions between the complex and the corresponding polymers. In addition, the emission properties of the composites of Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2/PEO vary greatly with the molar ratios of the complex and polymer, showing the influence of the compositions, which can be attributed to different composite structures, such as a crystalline and an amorphous one, while the luminescence of the other two series of the composites changes slightly with the compositions. The luminescence can be tuned by changing the matrices and the compositions conveniently.