Fluorescence in Lanthanide Coordination Compounds

Dear Colleagues,

Lanthanide (Ln) complexes have attracted much attention in the last two decades as luminescent devices in the biological fields, such as bio-probes, sensors, and anticancer agents. Trivalent lanthanide ions can form stable complexes with polypeptides, a property that made Lanthanide-binding protein motifs to be extensively used in X-ray crystallography and NMR studies. The electron densities of the Ln(III)-bound peptide compounds and paramagnetic properties facilitate determining the macromolecular structure. Other applications of lanthanide complexes include their use as light devices, solid-state lasers, temperature probes, and in constructing optical signal amplifiers in telecommunication networks. The Ln ion displays coordination numbers ranging from six to twelve in the lanthanide complexes, creating flexible geometrical coordination in the solid state and solutions. The unique electron configuration of Ln³⁺ ions ([Xe] ₄f^0-14) and their complexes are known to exhibit narrow and characteristic f–f transitions of luminescent emissions that span from ultraviolet (UV) to visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) regions. The ₄f–₄f transitions in these complexes are very weak, but this process is enhanced via effective energy transfer from organic ligand chromophores or linker electrons to the central metal ions from which the emission occurs; “photo-antenna effect”. In the molecular design of Ln-complexes, the organic ligand is expected to enhance f-f emission through the energy levels of an acceptor of Ln ion.

This Special Issue of "Fluorescence in Lanthanide Coordination Compounds" in MDPI’s Compounds journal will comprise a selection of regular research papers, short communications or reviews covering various aspects of a multidisciplinary field related to this topic. We warmly invite authors to submit contributions dedicated to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Salah Massoud
Guest Editor

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• lanthanides
• fluorescence
• antenna effect