Synthesis and photoluminescence study of electrospun nanofibers of Eu(TTA)3Phen/PMMA-PVDF composite for photoluminescent fabric designing

Abstract

Europium complex Eu(TTA)3Phen (TTA=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) was synthesized by solution technique and then used for the preparation of electrospun nanofibers of Eu(TTA)3phen/Polymers using polymers such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyvinyldiflouride (PVDF) and its combination such as, PMMA-PVDF as carrier. During the electrospinning process the solution was fed to the tip using syringe pump at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/hr. A positive voltage of 20kV was applied to the polymer solution, the electrospun fibers were typically obtained at a tip-to-collector distance of 15cm. Nanofibers formation of Eu(TTA)3phen/polymer was confirmed by SEM. Photoluminescence study of the fibers show typical Eu3+ ion red emission, assigned to the transitions between the first excited state (5D0) and the multiplet (7F0-4). Here, we compare the photoluminescence properties of nanofibers of PMMA, PVDF and its composite. In presence of different polymer and composite of polymers there was change in photoluminescence properties with change in diameter of nanofibers. These light emitting polymer nanofibers may be suitable for photoluminescent fabric designing.