Covalent integration of luminescent Eu (III) complex onto composite conductors or semiconducting substrates by grafting with organosilane

A method to introduce the luminescent rare earth complex onto Si and indium tin oxide substrates by grafting with organosilane was presented. The organosilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, was used as molecular bridge to link 5-(7-bromoheptyl)-5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine to the activated substrates. Europium complex, Europium tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonato)(2,2′-bipyridine), was then incorporated to the substrates via coordination reaction. The surface chemical composition and surface morphology of modified substrates were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The electrochemical characterization, fluorescence microscopy and photoluminescence analysis were utilized to confirm the Europium complex formation on the substrates.