Energy Transfer in Mixed Lanthanides Complexes: Toward High‐Performance Pressure Sensors Based on the Luminescence Intensity Ratio
Yujiao Zhou, Gilles Ledoux, Laurence Bois, Guillaume Pilet, Margherita Colombo, Erwann Jeanneau, Lionel Lafarge, Catherine Journet, Sylvie Descartes, David Philippon
Abstract
Abstract In this study, a reversible pressure‐sensing material with high sensitivity is presented. Mixed β‐diketonate complexes of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ [(Ln)(acac) 3 phen] are synthesized with phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand. The organic ligands provide the antenna effect to make the Ln 3+ complex excitable at 405 nm. Eu 3+ emission results from efficient energy transfer (ET) from Tb 3+ . Under 405 nm excitation, the emission intensity of Tb 3+ decreases whereas the emission intensity of Eu 3+ increases with pressure, making this complex a potential pressure sensor based on luminescent‐intensity‐ratio (LIR) up to 700 MPa. This study then discusses the application of this Tb 3+ /Eu 3+ complex for pressure sensing depending on measurement conditions. The addition of the optically neutral ion Y 3+ to the system can reduce the impact of pressure‐induced structural defects on the emission, thus improving the reversibility of the LIR variation as a function of pressure. Therefore, a self‐calibrating, reliable, and reversible pressure‐sensing material is proposed here, with remarkable pressure sensitivity compared to a peak shift‐based pressure sensor.