LAUSR

Lanthanide luminescence could be quenched by water or high frequency vibrations, which seriously limit the application of luminescent composites, especially hydrogels based on lanthanides. Here, luminescent hydrogels were fabricated by introducing 5-sulfosalicylic acid molecules into a hybrid system which stemmed from the self-assembly of sodium alginate with terbium ions (Tb3+). The shape of the enhanced luminescent hydrogels was not limited, as both layered and spherical hydrogels can be prepared. The morphology and luminescence properties of the hydrogels were thereafter studied. The results showed that the as-prepared alginate hydrogels exhibited clearly identified green emissions under ultraviolet radiation through the metal coordination interactions with the assembled alginate, while the luminescence intensity of the alginate hydrogels increased with increasing reaction time between the alginate and Tb3+ ions. Even, when dried, the hydrogels still exhibited enhanced luminescence, which might be used twice. The results demonstrated that 5-sulfosalicylic acid synergistic terbium–polymer self-assembly is an effective approach to fabricate luminescent composites containing terbium complexes.