Novel hybrid materials based on the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and lanthanide(III) carboxylates Eu:2,6-DClB and Tb:2,6-DClB were synthesized and carefully analyzed in the context of their potential application in optically active polymer-based optical fibers. To determine the usefulness of the obtained materials, a careful thermal, mass spectroscopy, and optical characterization was performed, focusing on the features critical for the technology of optical fiber processing. In addition, the luminescent features of both lanthanide complexes and the resulting hybrid composites were carefully investigated to identify the processes responsible for light emission and to analyze the influence of the PMMA host on light emission intensity and spectral characteristics. The obtained results showed that both lanthanide carboxylate complexes exhibited intense luminescence in the red and green spectral range, typical of europium and terbium dopants, and that those features were well preserved after introducing them into the PMMA polymer. Thermal analysis also proved that introducing the luminescent additives did not significantly affect the thermal properties of both hybrid materials, thus enabling further processing into the form of optical fibers.

Mesoporous organosilicas functionalized simultaneously with both pendant amine groups and ethylene/phenylene bridges, were synthesized to evaluate the effect of the bridges incorporated in the silica framework on the structure, porosity and adsorption properties of final materials. It turned out that the presence of the bridges enhanced the formation of porosity but adversely affected the efficiency of amination. DFT theoretical calculation showed that the amine groups can be partially bonded by phenyl groups of the bridges. The obtained materials were tested as sorbents of diclofenac, which is considered as one of the most prominent hazardous pharmaceuticals. High uptakes of diclofenac reaching 842 mg g⁻¹ proved that the obtained materials could be applied for removal of drugs from waters and wastewaters, particularly when high concentrations of pharmaceutical are considered. For the phenylene bridged-based materials the diclofenac adsorption occurs only in the pores while for the others also on the external surface as indicated by different diclofenac desorption kinetics—this observation can be used to modulate the releasing profiles of drugs via proper design of the surface.