New organic-inorganic hybrid composites based on cellulose nanofibers and modified Laponite

The combination of cellulosic materials and clays, such as Laponite, can provide composites with superior optical and mechanical properties compared to pristine cellulose. Synthetic clays can also be used as a host matrix for the immobilization of luminescent complexes, as the incorporated complexes may present enhanced emission quantum efficiency, photo and thermostability compared to the non-immobilized ones. In this way, we, herein, report the preparation of luminescent composites through the incorporation of a Eu(III) complex [Eu3+(tta)n] containing Laponite (Lap) into cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The thermogravimetry results show that the obtained CNF/Lap@[Eu3+(tta)n] films present higher thermal resistance than the CNF film. The Eu3+(tta)n species were found in the composite structure with preserved luminescence characteristics, and no leaching or degradation of the organic ligand was observed with the preparation of the composites.