Ionic nanosphere as a novel sensitizer for luminescence from terbium(III) ion hybridized by facile ion-exchange process

Abstract

Abstract Luminescence from terbium(III) species is typically weak due to its low absorption coefficient and slow radiative process despite its advantageous color purity. Hybridizing with a photosensitizer(s) is one of the most popular strategies to obtain intense luminescence from terbium(III) species. We have developed a novel photosensitizing system in which terbium(III) ion is hybridized with the ionic nanosphere, a class of spherical ion-exchange resins with a diameter of <300 nm. Terbium(III)-doped ionic nanospheres successfully exhibited obvious green luminescence upon the photoexcitation of the nanosphere at 260 nm. The terbium(III)–nanosphere hybrids can be prepared by a simple methodology, and sample conditions are controllable facilely.