Luminescent materials derived from the surface-modification of Ln3+-doped zeolite L with a silylated terpyridine

Herein we report luminescent materials of Ln3+ (Ln = Eu or Tb) doped disc shaped zeolite L crystals (Eu3+/ZLD, Tb3+/ZLD) modified with a silylated terpyridine (Terpy-Si). The modified crystals show bright red emission and green emission under UV-light irradiation due to the energy transfer from the Terpy-Si to the Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions. The obtained materials were characterized with FT-IR, SEM, XRD and elemental analysis. Luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the luminescence properties of the modified Eu3+(Tb3+)/ZLD crystals. The formation of europium(III) and terbium(III) Terpy-Si silicon complexes and energy transfer from Terpy-Si to Eu3+ ions and Tb3+ have been confirmed by luminescence spectroscopy.