The first europium(III) β-diketonate complex functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

The first europium(III) β-diketonate complex functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) has been obtained by immobilization of such a complex at a silicon vertex of the POSS cage through the complexation of Eu(3+) ions with thenoyltrifluoroacetone-functionalized POSS. The new molecular hybrid material is liquid at room temperature, and shows bright-red emission when irradiated with UV light due to energy transfer from the thenoyltrifluoroacetone ligand to the coordinated Eu(3+) ions. Thermal analysis has revealed a significant improvement in the thermal stability of the material compared with tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)europium(III) dihydrate, [Eu(TTA)3 ]⋅2 H2 O. In the context of recent advances in printable electronic technology, this novel luminescent organic liquid with the characteristic emission of Eu(3+) may potentially be useful in the development of next-generation organic devices such as flexible displays.