Synthesis and luminescent properties of Eu(TTA)(3).3H(2)O nanocrystallines.

Nanocrystallines of rare earth complex, Eu(TTA)(3).3H(2)O, were synthesized by the chemical precipitation method and were characterized by elemental analysis, ultraviolet visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of the nanocrystallines was tunable by selecting the proper buffer system, which was used to control the pH of the solution. A small polydispersity in particle size ranging from 70 to 250 nm was obtained when ammonia was used. The nanocrystallines showed the characteristic fluorescence of europium ions and energy transfer from the organic ligand to central ions was observed by fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy. These nanoparticles of rare earth complexes have potential application in luminescent materials due to their excellent fluorescence properties. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.