Synthesis, structure, theoretical studies and luminescent properties of a ternary erbium(III) complex with acetylacetone and bathophenanthroline ligands

A novel erbium(III) complex with acetylacetone (Hacac) and bathophenanthroline (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, bath) ligands, formulated as [Er(acac)₃(bath)], has been characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, absorption and emission spectroscopies. In the theoretical part of this study, semi-empirical quantum chemistry methods using AM1, PM3, PM6 and PM7 models have been employed to predict the structure of the complex, calculate the geometric and crystallographic parameters, and make comparisons with spectroscopic data using INDO/S-CI calculations. Real-time time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) has also been used to calculate the optical absorption spectrum of the complex in the gas phase. - Highlights: • Synthesis and structure of a new erbium(III) β-diketonate complex. • TDDFT used for the first time to calculate the optical absorption spectrum. • Complex show strong near-infrared luminescence at 1.53 µm due to antenna effect