Structure and Emission Properties of Er₃Q₉ (Q = 8-Quinolinolate)

We report the first combined optical and structural investigation of
the water free Er-quinolinolate complex, an organo-lanthanide
system of interest for 1.5-μm telecom applications. Structural
data demonstrate that the complex has a trinuclear structure
(Er3Q9) which provides the Er metals with an octa-coordination
by the organic ligand and prevents solvent and water molecules
from entering the lanthanide coordination sphere. The results
of the structural analysis allow us to infer that the strong Er
luminescence quenching exhibited by the Er3Q9 complex is due
uniquely to resonant energy transfer to the aromatic C−H vibrations
of the ligand, providing the correct tools to design more efficient
emitters.