Flexible and transparent films consisting of lanthanide complexes for ratiometric luminescence thermometry

Herein, a flexible and transparent film consisting Eu3+/Tb3+ lanthanide complexes and poly(methylmethacrylate) was constructed via solution casting method, and further developed as a ratiometric luminescent thermometer with an excellent linear response to temperature variation from 77 to 297 K. The thermometer displays higher photo- and thermostability than corresponding pure complexs. Based on that the emission intensity ratio of D-5(4) -> F-7(5) transition (Tb3+) to D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (Eu3+) can be linearly related to the temperature, the resulting thermometer is not only more reliable than single Eu3+(or Tb3+) material based on one emission, and but also has higher sensitivity than other types of luminescent thermometers. This work highlights the practical applications of luminescent films in temperature-sensing fields. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.