Crystal Structure and Luminescence of the [Eu(Phen)2(NO3)3] Complex. The Role of the Ion-Coactivator

The [Eu(Phen)2(NO3)3] complex was synthesized via reaction of europium nitrate with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are monoclinic: a= 11.168(1), b= 17.976(2), c= 13.053(1) Å, β = 100.577(2)°, space group C2/c, Z= 4, ρ(calcd) = 1.801 g/cm3. The central europium atom coordinates (on a two-fold axis) six oxygen atoms of three nitrate groups with distances of 2.499(2), 2.502(2), and 2.542(2) Å and four nitrogen atoms of two phenanthroline molecules with distances of 2.542(2) and 2.593(2) Å. The influence of ion-coactivators on the luminescence of Eu3+in the [EuxM1 - x(Phen)2(NO3)3] complexes (M = Y, La, Nd, and Lu) is discussed.