Effect of terbium(III) species on the structure and physical properties of polyurethane (TPU)

Abstract Herein, a study is presented, addressed to understand the influence of the terbium (III) species contained in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. The studied terbium (III) species were terbium (III) nitrate, Tb(NO3)3·5H2O, and a terbium (III) complex, [TbL (NO3)2](NO3) (H2O), where L is a macrocyclic ligand derived from 2,6-pyridinedicarboxyaldehyde and ethylenediamine. SEM-EDXS showed that in both films the terbium (III) species were homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix. The film doped with the nitrate salt displayed different physical properties, in comparison to the pristine TPU and the film containing the terbium (III) complex. Both TPU/TbIII films, exhibiting a green color emission, with a G/B ratio being temperature independent. By comparison of the emission of both films containing terbium (III) species, the TPU/TbIII complex film presented a more intense luminescence due to the antenna effect. TPU doped with the nitrate salt showed weak emission, indicating the lack of sensitizing groups.