Preparation and examination of samarium (III)/PMMA nanofibers by electrospinning method

In this study, a Sm(III) cluster-based 2D coordination polymer {[Sm(2-stp).3(H2O)].(H2O)}n, (where 2-stp = 2-sulfoterephthalate), 1 has been synthesized hydrothermally and doped into poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibers through electrospinning technique to get a new 1D luminescent composite fibers, Sm/PMMA. The crystal structure of Sm(III) complex has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. Sm/PMMA composite fibers have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in comparison to that of the pure Sm(III) complex. The luminescent spectra of the composite nanofibers (Sm/PMMA) have demonstrated strong characteristic emission of Sm(III) ions and have also pointed out much better thermal stability than the pure Sm(III) complex.