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Highly efficient dual-channel doublet emission in lanthanide cerium(III) complex
Yujia Li1, Peiyu Fang1, Zeyou Xiong1
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed novel dual-channel cerium(III) complexes exhibiting unique open-shell doublet emission. This discovery offers new avenues for designing advanced luminescent materials with tunable properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Photophysics
Background:
- Dual-channel luminescent materials are typically closed-shell, emitting singlet fluorescence or triplet phosphorescence.
- Cerium(III) complexes offer unique electronic structures for novel luminescent properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate dual-channel emission from open-shell cerium(III) complexes.
- To investigate the effect of coordination number on luminescence properties.
Main Methods:
- Systematic synthesis and characterization of cerium(III) complexes (Ce(Tp4Me)(Bp4Me)2, Ce(Tp4Me)2(Bp4Me), Ce(Tp4R)3).
- Photophysical studies to analyze emission characteristics.
- Structural analysis to correlate coordination environment with luminescence.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated dual-channel doublet emission from open-shell cerium(III) complexes.
- Identified that nine-coordinated complexes (Ce(Tp4R)3) exhibit coordination structural relaxation upon excitation.
- Observed a new emission channel resulting from this relaxation.
Conclusions:
- Novel dual-channel doublet emission phenomenon achieved in lanthanide cerium(III) complexes.
- Coordination environment significantly influences luminescent properties.
- Provides insights for designing new lanthanide-based and dual-channel luminescent materials.
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