Enhanced red emissions of europium(III) chelates in DNA-CTMA complexes

DNA-based functional materials are of great interest in electrical and optical device applications. In this paper, novel DNA-based photo-functional materials were fabricated by associating a DNA-lipid complex with a luminescent Eu(III) complex. Interactions between DNA-lipid and Eu(III) complexes were investigated by photophysical measurements in both solution and film states. The emission properties of the Eu(III) complex were improved by association with the DNA-lipid complex in the film state. The emission intensity, quantum yield, and thermal stability of the Eu(III) complex hosted by the DNA-lipid matrix were superior to those of the complex in a conventional poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix. Furthermore, the Eu(III) complex in the DNA-lipid film showed circularly polarized luminescence through excitation of the ligand moiety. The chiral environment of the DNA matrix provides optical chirality to the interacting Eu(III) complex.