Multi-functional rare-earth hybrid layered networks: photoluminescence and catalysis studiesThis paper is part of a Journal of Materials Chemistrytheme issue on Layered Materials. Guest editors: Leonardo Marchese and Heloise O. Pastore.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Final Rietveld profiles, crystal data and structure refinement details for the powdered [RE(H2cmp)(H2O)] materials [where RE3+= Y3+(1), Pr3+(3), Nd3+(4), Sm3+(5), Eu3+(6), Gd3+(7), Tb3+(8), Dy3+(9), Ho3+(10) and Er3+(11)]. Additional structural drawings (coordination modes, hydrogen bonds and topology), and crystallographic tables with bond lengths and angles. SEM pictures. Additional photoluminescence spectra, thermograms and vibrational spectra (ATR-FT-IR and FT-Raman) for the entire series of compounds. CCDC reference numbers 705159–705170. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/b817381h

Hydrothermal reactions between rare-earth (RE) chloride salts and N-(carboxymethyl)iminodi(methylphosphonic acid) (H5cmp) led to the isolation of a series of layered networks formulated as [RE(H2cmp)(H2O)] [RE3+= Y3+, La3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+and Er3+]. All compounds were isolated as micro-crystalline powders (many of which were nano-sized in thickness), with the plate-like crystallites found to exhibit preferential growth perpendicular to the [002] vector, a feature which seems to favour catalytic performance. Full structural elucidation was attained by the combination of synchrotron radiation (micro-crystal and powder) diffraction data, solid-state NMR studies (1H, 13C and 31P) and photophysical measurements. Materials consist of ∞2[RE(H2cmp)(H2O)] layers in the abplane of the unit cell, constructed from a single RE3+centre (in a highly distorted dodecahedral coordination environment with one water molecule in the first coordination sphere) and one H2cmp3−ligand present in a zwitterionic form. Connections between layers along the c-axis are assured by strong and highly directional O–HO hydrogen bonds involving the protonated phosphonate group (donor) of one layer and one oxygen atom (acceptor) of the carboxylate group in the adjacent layer. The network is an unprecedented 12-connected uninodal plane net with total Schäfli symbol 330.434.52. The Eu3+material is photoluminescent at room temperature and 12 K with 5D0lifetimes of 0.86 ± 0.01 ms and 0.89 ± 0.01 ms, respectively. Studies of the mixed-lanthanide diluted [(Gd0.95Eu0.05)(H2cmp)(H2O)] material showed that Gd3+-to-Eu3+energy transfer occurs within the layers. The coordinated water molecule plays a decisive role in the non-radiative relaxation process of the Eu3+emission. All synthesised materials were further tested in the cyclodehydration of xylose to furfural, with the observed results comparing quite favourably with those from other solid acid catalysts used in the same reaction under similar conditions. A detailed catalytic study was performed for [Y(H2cmp)(H2O)]: selectivity increased to 84% as the conversion reached 83%; this solid was also re-used successfully in three consecutive 4 h runs after separation from the liquid phase by centrifugation and regeneration using either thermal treatment at 280 °C or repeated washing with solvents. All materials have been routinely characterized using vibrational spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR and FT-Raman), thermogravimetric analyses, SEM investigations and CHN elemental composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]