Photoluminescence of Metal-Polymer Complexes Based on Functional Triazole-Carbazole Copolymers with Terbium Ions

Functional copolymers of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole (VT) and N-vinylcarbazole (VK) were synthesized using a free-radical polymerization. The content of hole-conducting N-vinylcarbazole units was found to be 9, 16, and 37 mol. %. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1-NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning were applied to characterize the poly(VT-co-VK). Based on a polymer ligand, metal-polymer complexes with Tb(3+)ions were obtained in a polymethyl methacrylate matrix, and their luminescent properties were studied. The maximum photoluminescence of the complex can be achieved when using 16 mol. % of N-vinylcarbazole units. This is because two photoprocesses (excimer formation and excitation energy transfer) occur simultaneously and competitively.