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Integrating a Triplet-triplet Annihilation Up-conversion System to Enhance Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Response to Sub-bandgap Light
Published on: September 12, 2014
Intramolecular Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Enhanced the Photon Upconversion Performance under Far-Red Light
Yun-Xi Liu1, Yi Peng1, Lin-Han Jiang1
1Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China.
Abstract:
We report the synthesis of a novel dimeric anthracene derivative by covalently tethering two blue-fluorescent anthracene-based annihilators via a flexible alkyl linker. This dimer, combined with a far-red-responsive sensitizer (PtTNP), enables photon upconversion based on an intramolecular triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) mechanism. Upon far-red light excitation, the system emits blue light with a high upconversion quantum yield of up to 17.4% (out of a theoretical maximum of 50%). Combined theoretical calculations and photophysical characterization reveal that the flexible linker effectively couples the two annihilator units, forming dual-triplet sites that facilitate rapid intramolecular TTA. This molecular design allows the triplet excited state annihilator to maintain a high intramolecular TTA quantum yield at low concentrations (100 μM, 1.39%), resulting in approximately a 3-fold enhancement in upconversion emission intensity compared to its monomeric counterpart. This work presents the first demonstration of far-red excited intramolecular TTA to enhance photon upconversion performance at low concentrations, advancing the practical applications of photon upconversion materials.
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