Photoluminescence emission of a stable and well‐dispersed unsaturated polyester‐co‐rare‐earth complex

ABSTRACT A series of unsaturated polyester (UPR)‐ co ‐rare‐earth complex (REX) photoluminescence materials with red and green luminescence were fabricated. REXs with double bonds, including complex of europium (Eu 3+ ) (methacrylic acid) 3 and 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen) [Eu(MAA) 3 Phen], and complex of terbium (Tb 3+ )(methacrylic acid) 3 and Phen [Tb(MAA) 3 Phen], and UPR acted as functional monomers and the polymer matrix, respectively. Fourier transform infrared and UV absorption spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structure of the resulting UPR‐ co ‐REX according to the free‐radical polymerization mechanism. The study of fluorescence distribution by means of laser scanning confocal microscopy indicated that the REX materials were uniformly dispersed in the UPR matrix. The effects of the type and dosage of REX on the fluorescence intensity and stability were examined via fluorescence spectrometry. We found that the optical/physical properties of the REX were improved by UPR molecular skeleton structures. The fluorescence intensity increased with increasing use of the REX and reached a maximum value when the REX content was 12 wt %. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45253.