Equilibrium structure of erbium-oxygen complexes in crystalline silicon

The equilibrium structure of ErOn (nless than or equal to6) complexes in crystalline silicon has been investigated by density-functional computations. Two different geometries have been considered, corresponding to the substitutional and tetrahedral interstitial site for erbium. All atomic coordinates have been optimized by Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. The resulting structures have low symmetry, with E-O distances of similar to2.35 Angstrom. The substitutional site is the most stable one for nless than or equal to2, while the tetrahedral interstitial is favored for n>2.

Near-infrared photoluminescence of lanthanide complexes containing the hemicyanine chromophore

The near-infrared luminescence properties of three (E)-N-hexadecyl-N',N'-dimethylamino-stilbazolium tetrakis(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolonato) lanthanide(III) complexes are described. These three complexes, containing trivalent neodymium, erbium and ytterbium, respectively, show near-infrared luminescence in acetonitrile solution upon UV irradiation. Luminescence decay times have been measured. The complexes consist of a positively charged hemicyanine chromophore with a long alkyl chain and a tetrakis(pyrazolonato) lanthanide(III) anion. Because of the absence of an alpha-hydrogen atom in the pyrazolonato ligands, and because of the saturation of the coordination sphere by four bidentate ligands, the luminescence properties are enhanced when compared to, e.g. quinolinate complexes. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strong erbium luminescence in the near-infrared telecommunication window

A new type of near-infrared emitting rare-earth complex has been synthesised, consisting of three bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide ligands and one 1,10-phenanthroline molecule. The chelate rings formed by the rare-earth ion and the bidentate ligands do not contain any carbon atoms and can hence be considered as 'inorganic' chelate rings. The absence of C-H stretching vibration modes in the first coordination sphere of the rare-earth ion and the presence of a light-harvesting moiety (1,10-phenanthroline) bound to the rare-earth ion result in a complex that can be efficiently excited and exhibits intense near-infrared luminescence. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.