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X-ray scintillating lanthanide-based coordination polymers

Published

Author(s)

Elizabeth Decoteau, Claire Belatti, Huong Giang Nguyen, Luiz Jacobsohn, Robert Surbella, III, Christopher Cahill

Abstract

Reported are the syntheses and characterization of 25 lanthanide-containing coordination polymers exhibiting four structure types: type I': [Ln(TFTP)1.5(bpy)] (Ln = La3+-Nd3+), type I: [Ln(TFTP)1.5(bpy)(H2O)] (Ln = Sm3+-Lu3+), type II': [Pr(TFTP)1.5(phen)], and type II: [Ln(TFTP)1.5(phen)(H2O)] (Ln =Nd3+-Yb3+, excluding Pm). These compounds feature lanthanide metal cations bound to tetrafluoroterephthalate linkers (TFTP) and either, 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) capping ligands. Initial calculations using crystallographic data revealed large void spaces, ranging from 86 Å3 in type I to 333 Å3 in type II. Yet, adsorption isotherm data indicate very little gas uptake of both materials with a BET surface area of 9 m2/g for I-Tb (8) and 19 m2/g for II-Tb (20). X-ray irradiation of I-Eu (6), II-Eu (18), I-Tb (8), and II-Tb (20) produced visible red and green emission, respectively. Radioluminescence studies of both type I and II with Sm3+, Eu3+, and Tb3+ metal centers indicate that both structure types featuring Tb3+ are brighter than those with Eu3+ or Sm3+. Notably, structure type I with Tb3+ is the brightest scintillator with a relative luminosity of 1.7x that of bismuth germanate (BGO).
Citation
Crystal Growth & Design
Volume
25

Keywords

Scintillation, lanthanides, coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks, luminescence, radioluminescence.

Citation

Decoteau, E. , Belatti, C. , Nguyen, H. , Jacobsohn, L. , Surbella, R. and III, C. (2025), X-ray scintillating lanthanide-based coordination polymers, Crystal Growth & Design, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.5c00485, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959726 (Accessed October 6, 2025)

Issues

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Created June 23, 2025, Updated July 18, 2025
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