Energy Transfer at the Zeolite L Boundaries: Towards Photo- and Electroresponsive Materials

A series of iridium(III) compounds have been used as stopper molecules at the pore openings of zeolite L and act as effective donor units for transferring excitation energy to dye molecules entrapped within the zeolite channels. The synthesis and photophysical characterization of the new iridium(III) complexes are described, along with Förster resonance energy-transfer experiments. Transfer efficiencies for the studied systems are discussed on the basis of the role played by the localization of the donor excited state and the acceptor distribution in the channels. Because iridium(III) complexes can also be electrically excited, the electroluminescent behavior of donor-acceptor zeolite systems can be explored, by embedding them into a polymeric active layer and constructing light-emitting devices (LEDs). Novel hybrid LEDs can be fabricated with emission from the dyes entrapped into the zeolites and sensitized by the electro-responsive iridium(III) complex.