Phosphorescence Afterglow and Thermal Properties of [ScCl3(ptpy)] (ptpy: 4'‐phenyl‐2,2',6',2''‐terpyridine)

Abstract A trivalent scandium complex with 4′‐phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine [ScCl 3 (ptpy)] has been synthesized and characterized. At low temperatures, [ScCl 3 (ptpy)] shows a luminescence afterglow of green color in the crystalline form and of cyan color in a glass matrix, caused by phosphorescence of long triplet state emission lifetime (1.63(2) s in a glass matrix, 0.56(3) s in the crystalline form). In addition, the complex is thermally remarkably stable up to 495 °C, especially in comparison with previously reported similar lanthanide and group 3 metal chloride complexes containing ptpy.