Luminescent Nanorattles Based on Bipyridine Periodic MesoporousOrganosilicas for Simultaneous Thermometry and Catalysis

We have synthesized a cocondensed bipyridine-ethane periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPy-Et-PMO) as a hostmaterial to simultaneously anchor lanthanide complexes and a V-complex in order to develop a heterogeneous catalyst that is at thesame time an optical temperature sensor. We focused on the oxidative desulfurization reaction, and for this purpose, BPy-Et-PMO ispost-treated with the vanadium oxodiperoxo complex [KVO(O2)2]. After grafting KVO(O2)2-BPy-Et-PMO with lanthanide ions(Tb3+and Sm3+), the KVO(O2)2-Tb,Sm(acac)-BPy-Et-PMO material shows simultaneous catalytic and thermometric performances,but the catalytic activity is significantly reduced. We then developed a hollow BPy-Et-PMO (HBPy-Et-PMO), in which we grewNaYF4:Er,Yb inside the hollow PMO cavity (creating ananorattle), while additionally grafting the hollow PMO walls with thevanadium oxodiperoxo complex. This hollow PMO system is a heterogeneous catalyst that shows no loss in catalytic activity while atthe same time being a temperature sensor operating in a temperature range relevant for the selected catalytic reaction. Therefore, thenanorattle KVO(O2)2-HBPy-Et-PMO@NaYF4:Er,Yb particles prove to be an excellent multifunctional new material for bothcatalysis and thermometry measurements

Automated summary

A cocondensed bipyridine-ethane periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPy-Et-PMO) was synthesized as a host material for anchoring lanthanide complexes and a V-complex, achieving the dual functionalities of optical temperature sensing and catalysis. By post-treatment and developing a hollow PMO system, nanoparticles with temperature sensing and catalytic capabilities were obtained.