Rare earth (Eu3+, Tb3+) mesoporous hybrids with calix[4]arene derivative covalently linking MCM-41: Physical characterization and photoluminescence property

MCM-41 mesoporous silica has been functionalized with two kinds of macrocylic calixarene derivatives Calix[4] and Calix[4]Br (Calix[4]=P-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, Calix[4]Br=5.11,17.23-tetra-tert-butyl-25.27-bihydroxy-26.28-bibromopropoxycalix[4]arene) through condensation approach of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as a template. Novel organic–inorganic mesoporous luminescent hybrid containing RE3+ (Eu3+, Tb3+) complexes covalently attached to the functionalized ordered mesoporous MCM-41, which are designated as RE-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and RE-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41, respectively, are obtained by sol–gel process. It is found that they all have high surface area, uniform in the mesostructure and good crystallinity. Measurement of the photoluminescence properties show the mesoporous material covalently bonded Tb3+ complexes (Tb-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and Tb-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41) exhibit the stronger characteristic emission of Tb3+ and longer lifetime than the corresponding Eu-containing materials Eu-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and Eu-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41 due to the triplet state energy of modified organic ligands Calix[4]-Si and Calix[4]Br–Si match with the emissive energy level of Tb3+ very well.