Visible-Range Sensitization of Er(3+)-Based Infrared Emission from Perfluorinated 2-Acylphenoxide Complexes

Area of Science:

• Materials Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Erbium (Er3+) emission at ~1540 nm is vital for telecommunications.
• Developing efficient photosensitizers for lanthanide ions is an ongoing research area.
• Acylphenoxide ligands offer a versatile platform for tuning photophysical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize new fully fluorinated acylphenoxide ligands.
• To investigate the visible light photosensitization of Er3+ emission using these ligands.
• To explore the potential of these complexes in optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of five new fully fluorinated acylphenoxide ligands.
• Preparation of Cs[ErL4] compounds incorporating the new ligands.
• Spectroscopic characterization, including excitation and emission spectra.
• Measurement of luminescence decay times.

Main Results:

• The new ligands act as effective "antennae" for visible light photosensitization of Er3+ emission (~1540 nm).
• Excitation wavelengths can be tuned across the visible spectrum (400-650 nm) by modifying ligand functionalization.
• Luminescence decay times for the solid complexes range from 7 to 16 μs.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorinated acylphenoxide ligands are promising for visible light-driven Er3+ emission.
• These findings open avenues for novel optoelectronic and photonic devices utilizing lanthanide luminescence.
• Tunable excitation and efficient energy transfer highlight the potential for telecommunication and sensing applications.