Synthesis,characterization, and fluorescence properties of lanthanide complexes with the copolymers of 2‐butenedioic acid (z)‐mono‐ethyl ester and styrene

In this study, the luminescent macromolecular lanthanide complexes with the copolymers of styrene (St) and 2‐butenedioic acid (z)‐mono‐ethyl ester (BAME) have been synthesized, and an extensive characterization has been carried out by means of elemental analysis, FTIR, thermal analysis, and fluorescence determination. The results showed that the carboxylic groups on the chain of the polymers acted as bidentate ligands coordinated to lanthanide ions; and the coordination degree of ‐COO^?/Ln³⁺ in the macromolecular complexes was closely dependent on both the pH value of the solution and the molar ratio of St to BAME in the polymeric ligands. Thermal analysis manifested that the macromolecular complexes Ln‐PSt/BAME (Ln = Y, Sm, Dy, Eu, and Tb) were highly crosslinked and had high thermal stability and solvent resistance. The fluorescence determination indicated that Ln‐PSt/BAME complexes could emit characteristic fluorescence with comparatively high brightness and good monochromaticity, and the fluorescence intensity increased with an increasing of lanthanide content. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011