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Heterotrilantanide cluster complexes exhibiting up-conversion luminescence in water
Ryunosuke Karashimada1, Koki Musha1, Nobuhiko Iki1
1Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 6-6-07, Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. karashimada@tohoku.ac.jp.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|March 4, 2025
Summary
This study demonstrates photon up-conversion luminescence in water using heterotrinuclear cluster complexes. Near-infrared light excites ytterbium, inducing visible light emission from erbium and terbium centers.
Area of Science:
- Coordination Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Photophysics
Background:
- Lanthanide-based upconversion materials are crucial for various applications, including bioimaging and solar cells.
- Thiacalix[4]arene ligands offer a versatile platform for constructing polynuclear metal complexes.
- Controlling energy transfer pathways in heterometallic systems is key to optimizing luminescence properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel heterotrinuclear cluster complexes incorporating Erbium (Er), Ytterbium (Yb), and Terbium (Tb) ions.
- To investigate the photon up-conversion luminescence properties of these complexes in aqueous media.
- To explore the potential of these complexes for applications requiring visible light emission upon near-infrared excitation.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Er-Yb-thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate and Tb-Yb-thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate complexes.
- Characterization using spectroscopic techniques, including UV-Vis absorption, emission, and excitation spectroscopy.
- Two-photon excitation studies using near-infrared (NIR) light to probe upconversion mechanisms.
- Luminescence lifetime measurements to understand energy transfer dynamics.
Main Results:
- The heterotrinuclear complexes exhibited efficient photon up-conversion luminescence in water.
- Visible light emission (green from Er, green/blue from Tb) was observed upon excitation with NIR light.
- The Ytterbium (Yb) center acted as the primary sensitizer, absorbing NIR light and transferring energy to the emitting Er or Tb centers.
- The thiacalix[4]arene ligand effectively bridged the lanthanide ions, facilitating efficient energy transfer.
Conclusions:
- Heterotrinuclear Er-Yb and Tb-Yb thiacalix[4]arene complexes are effective platforms for achieving photon up-conversion luminescence in water.
- The Yb sensitizer plays a critical role in enabling visible light emission from Er and Tb emitters via two-photon excitation.
- These findings open avenues for developing novel luminescent materials for aqueous-phase applications.
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