Photoluminescence and raman studies of curium and americium complexes of 6-methyl 2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole: evidence for an efficient intramolecular energy transfer.

The 6-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole (biz) ligand coordinates with the actinide species in solution, and the complexes display efficient intramolecular energy-transfer processes. The energy transfer in the Cm(III)-biz system proceeds in a nonradiative mode, whereas a radiative mode is the principal mechanism in the Am(III)-biz system.