Luminescent trade-off effect arising from Y3+ ion doping in rare earth metal–organic framework solid solutions Tb1-xYx-PTC (H3PTC = pyridine-2, 4, 6-tricarboxylate).

A series of rare earth solid solutions, Tb 1- x Y x -PTC with pyridine-2, 4, 6-tricarboxylic acid (H 3 PTC), have been prepared using a hydrothermal synthesis method and characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques etc. Tb 1- x Y x -PTC are isomorphous with 1D zigzag metal-oxide chains and 2D coordination polyhedral layers, which are further interlinked into 3D framework by the connection of PTC3− ligands. The photoluminescent behaviors of the solid solutions Tb 1- x Y x -PTC were carefully studied. The QY of Tb 1- x Y x -PTC with appropriate amount of Y3+ ion is obviously enhanced due to reducing dipole–dipole and quadrupole–quadrupole interaction between emitters of Tb3+ ions. This study demonstrates that the formation of solid solutions by introducing optically inactive ions is an efficient strategy to get improved photoluminescent materials. In Tb 1- x Y x -PTC, there is an intrinsic "trade-off" effect among reducing concentration quenching and luminescence emitting centers reducing. [Display omitted] • A series of rare earth solid solutions, Tb 1- x Y x -PTC, were successfully synthesized. • The solid solutions Tb 1- x Y x -PTC are isomorphic to the parent Tb-PTC MOF. • The solid solutions Tb 1- x Y x -PTC have longer millisecond-grade luminescence lifetimes and higher quantum yields. • The QY of Tb 1- x Y x -PTC with appropriate amount of Y3+ ion is obviously enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]