Water-Induced Turn-on of Lanthanide Photoluminescence Emission and Application in Colorimetric Sensing of Trace Water

Malee Sinchow; Rania Chaicharoen; Thammanoon Chuasaard; Bunlawee Yotnoi; Chalermpong Saenjum; Athipong Ngamjarurojana; Apinpus Rujiwatra

doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c06958

Water-Induced Turn-on of Lanthanide Photoluminescence Emission and Application in Colorimetric Sensing of Trace Water

ACS Omega. 2024 Dec 2;9(50):49441-49451. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06958. eCollection 2024 Dec 17.

Authors

Malee Sinchow^{1

2}, Rania Chaicharoen², Thammanoon Chuasaard^{1

2}, Bunlawee Yotnoi³, Chalermpong Saenjum⁴, Athipong Ngamjarurojana⁵, Apinpus Rujiwatra²

Affiliations

¹ Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 239 Houy Kaew Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
³ Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
⁵ Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

Abstract

To examine the water-induced photoluminescence turn-on and its potential application in trace water sensing, a new series of [Ln^III(dmba)₃(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O, where Ln^III = La^III (I), Pr^III (II), Nd^III (III), Sm^III (IV), Eu^III (V), Gd^III (VI), Tb^III (VII), Dy^III (VIII), Ho^III (IX), and Er^III (X), were synthesized using dimethoxybenzoic acid (Hdmba). Their single-crystal structures and thermal and chemical robustness were investigated, and the effects of lanthanide contraction and noncovalent interactions were discussed. The photoluminescence and colorimetric properties of I-X were investigated. Their dependence on dehydration and rehydration was disclosed, from which the significant role of noncovalent interactions was proposed. Based on the dehydration-rehydration-dependent responses in the forms of photoluminescence emission and color, the turn-off (dehydration) and turn-on (rehydration) of the red emission of Eu^III (V) were demonstrated. Using a mobile phone camera and freeware application, its use in the colorimetric sensing of trace water in polar organic solvents was successfully achieved. With respect to ethanol, acetonitrile, and acetone, linear correlations were established from 0 to 3-5% by volume of water with an R ² of over 0.98. The detection and quantification limits were less than 0.5 and 1.5%, respectively. The percentage recoveries were 92 and 110%. The underlying mechanism was postulated.