Enhancement of luminescence of Nd3+ complexes with deuterated hexafluoroacetylacetonato ligands in organic solvent

Tris-(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)neodymium [Nd(HFA-D)(3)], was prepared by chelation of Nd3+ ion with deuterated hexafluoroacetylacetone in CD3OD. Luminescence of the Nd3+ complex was observed for the first time in organic solvents and the quantum yield was estimated to be of the order of 10(-2) in deuterated acetone solution. The-absorption spectrum of [Nd(HFA-D)(3)] dissolved in acetone was comparable with that of Nd3+ ion in Y3Al5O15 matrix (Nd:YAG). Splitting of the F-4(3/2) level was determined to be 82.3 cm(-1) in this system. These spectral characteristics suggest that the physical nature of Nd3+ coordination environments should be uniform and well defined by coordination of HFA in solution.