Issue 11, 2020

Triplet fusion upconversion using sterically protected 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the emitter

Abstract

Improving the efficiency of triplet fusion upconversion (TF-UC) in the solid-state is still challenging due to the aggregation and phase separation of chromophores. In this work, two 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) derivatives based on the modification of the 9,10-phenyl rings with bulky isopropyl groups (bDPA-1 and bDPA-2) were used as emitters. By using platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) as the sensitizer, TF-UC performance was comprehensively investigated in 3 media: toluene solution, polyurethane thin film and nano/micro-crystals in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix. Only a small difference in upconversion efficiency between the bulky DPAs and the DPA reference was observed in toluene solution and polyurethane thin film. However, a large improvement of TF-UC quantum yield was achieved in bDPA-2/PtOEP crystals (ΦUC = (0.92 ± 0.05)%) with a low excitation intensity threshold (52 mW cm−2) compared to that of DPA/PtOEP crystals (ΦUC = (0.09 ± 0.03)%). This difference was largely attributed to improved dispersibility of the PtOEP sensitizer in the bDPA-2 emitter crystals. The bulky DPAs also show excellent stability under UV irradiation with exposure to oxygen compared to DPA. These results provide a strategy for developing efficient solid-state TF-UC systems based on nano/micro-particles of emitter–sensitizer mixtures.

Graphical abstract: Triplet fusion upconversion using sterically protected 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the emitter

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Nov 2019
Accepted
26 Feb 2020
First published
26 Feb 2020

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 6300-6307

Triplet fusion upconversion using sterically protected 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the emitter

C. Gao, B. Zhang, C. R. Hall, L. Li, Y. Chen, Y. Zeng, T. A. Smith and W. W. H. Wong, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 6300 DOI: 10.1039/C9CP06311K

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