Luminescent lanthanide coordination polymers for photonic applications

Luminescent lanthanide coordination polymers composed of lanthanide ions and organic joint ligands exhibit characteristic photophysical and thermostable properties that are different from typical organic dyes, luminescent metal complexes, and semiconductor nanoparticles. Various types of luminescent Eu(III) and Tb(III) coordination polymers have been reported to date. One-, two-, and three-dimensional alternating sequences of lanthanide ions and organic ligands exhibit remarkable characteristics as novel organic materials with various structures, and unique physical properties. In this review, the characteristic structures, photophysical properties, and photonic applications for organic display devices, triboluminescent materials, thermosensors, color and brightness tuning, new type organogels, future magneto-optical materials, luminescent organo-nanoparticles, and energy transfer process of lanthanide coordination polymers are introduced.