In situsynthesisofEu(Tp)3 complex inside the pores of mesoporous silica nanoparticles

A routeforeuropium(III)tris-pyrazolylboratecomplex[Eu(Tp)3] formationinsidetheporesof mesoporous silicananoparticles(MSNs)hasbeenestablishedtoyieldahighlyluminescentnanostruc- tured hybrid.Twodifferentinsituchemicalprecipitationtechniqueshavebeenexploredforthe nanoencapsulation oftheEu3+ complex[Eu(Tp)3] insidetheporechannelsofmesoporoussilica nanoparticles, byvaryingthesequenceorderofprecursorimpregnation.Inthe first method,theEu salt isintroducedintotheporesbywetimpregnationandremovalofthesolvent,followedbywet impregnation oftheligand.Inthesecondapproach,theadditionsequenceisreversed.Theimportanceof the additionsequencewasdemonstratedbythesuccessfulformationoftheeuropium(III)tris-pyrazolyl boratecomplexintheporenetworkbyfollowingthe first approach.Theobservedpyrazol-1-ylborate (Tp) toEu3+ intramolecular energytransfer,i.e.,theantennaeffect,verified theformationofthecomplex. Photoluminescencespectroscopy,X-raydiffraction,N2 adsorption, FTIRspectroscopy,andTEMwereused to characterizethematerial.