Sensitization of the 4f-luminescence of terbium with copper ions and its analytical application

The intense sensitization of terbium luminescence with copper(II) ions was observed in the Tb-Cu mixed-metal complex of 1.5-bis(2-hydrazinocarbophenoxy)-3-oxapentane (HCPhO) with the ratio Tb : Cu : HCPhO = 1 : 1 : 1. Other d-block metals produced no sensitizing effect. The effect observed was used for the luminescence determination of trace copper in the presence of 1000-fold amounts of Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II). The accuracy of determining copper was verified by the analysis of Certified Reference Materials of zinc- and nickel-based alloys.