Charge transfer emission between π- and 4f-orbitals in a trivalent europium complex
Yuichi Kitagawa, Toranosuke Tomikawa, Kota Aikawa, Shiori Miyazaki, Tomoko Akama, Masato Kobayashi, Mengfei Wang, S. Shoji, Koji Fushimi, Kiyoshi Miyata, Yuichi Hirai, Takayuki Nakanishi, Ken Onda, Tetsuya Taketsugu, Yasuchika Hasegawa
Abstract
Photoinduced metal-to-ligand (or ligand-to-metal) charge-transfer (CT) states in metal complexes have been extensively studied toward the development of luminescent materials. However, previous studies have mainly focused on CT transitions between d- and π-orbitals. Herein, we report the demonstration of CT emission from 4f- to π-orbitals using a trivalent europium (Eu(III)) complex, supported by both experimental and theoretical analyses. The Eu(III) complex exhibits an eight-coordination structure, comprising three anionic nitrates and two neutral electron-donating ligands containing a carbazole unit. The diffuse reflectance spectrum of the complex displays an absorption band at 440 nm and time-resolved emission analyses reveal a characteristic emission band at 550 nm. Comparative studies employing a trivalent gadolinium (Gd(III)) complex, alongside quantum chemical analyses, confirm that the observed absorption and emission bands are associated with CT transitions between π- and 4f-orbitals. The observation of CT emission based on the 4f-orbital offers novel insights into the field of molecular luminescence science and technology. Photoinduced metal-to-ligand (or ligand-to-metal) charge-transfer (CT) states in metal complexes have been extensively studied, but primarily limited to CT transitions between d- and π-orbitals. Here, CT emission from 4f- to π-orbitals is demonstrated using a trivalent europium complex.