Novel Cuboid-like Crystalline Complexes (CLCCs), Photon Emission, Fluorescent Fibers, and Bright Red Fabrics of Eu3+ Complexes Adjusted by Amphiphilic Molecules.

ABSTRACT

With the growing needs for flexible fluorescence emission materials, emission fibers and related wearable fabrics with bright emission properties have become key factors for wearable applications. In this article, novel cuboid-like crystals of Eu3+ complexes were generated. Except for light-energy-harvesting ligands of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) and 1,10-phenanthroline hydrate (Phen), the crystal structures were adjusted by other functional amphiphilic molecules. Not only does ETPC-SA, adjusted by stearic acid, have a regular cuboid-like crystal with a size of about 2 µm size, but it also generates the best photon emission property, with a fluorescence quantum yield of 98.4% fluorescence quantum yield in this report. Furthermore, we succeeded in producing novel fluorescent fibers by mini-twin-screw extrusion, and it was easy to form bright red fabrics, which are equipped with strong fluorescence intensity, flexibility, and a smooth hand feeling, with the normal fabricating method in our work. It is worth noting that ETPC-HQ fibers, which carry a crystal complex adjusted by hydroquinone, possess the lowest quantum yield but have the longest average fluorescence lifetime of 1259 µs. This result means that a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix could make excited electrons stand in the excited state for a relatively long time when adjusted by hydroquinone, so as to increase the afterglow property of fluorescent fibers.