Supramolecular Crowding Can Avoid Oxygen Quenching of Photon Upconversion in Water

A common challenge in chemistry that deals with photoexcited states is to avoid oxygen quenching. This is crucial for hot research fields such as photon upconversion (UC), in which oxygen-sensitive triplet excited states play pivotal roles. However, methods to avoid oxygen quenching in aqueous media are far more limited despite eagerly anticipated catalytic and biological applications. This work introduces a simple strategy to achieve air-stable triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA)-based UC in water, namely, supramolecular crowding. Amphiphilic cationic acceptor molecules and anions with long alkyl chains co-assemble in water in which hydrophobic donor molecules are molecularly dispersed. Despite the common notion that oxygen molecules diffuse readily across hydrophobic domains in water, more than 80 % of the TTA-UC emission of the obtained hydrophobic co-assemblies is maintained in air-saturated water. This work demonstrates the new promising potential of supramolecular chemistry for photophysical and photochemical functions with oxygen-sensitive species.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Molecular Photon Upconversion

The addition of stimuli‐responsiveness to anti‐Stokes emission provides a unique platform for biosensing and chemosensing. Particularly, stimuli‐responsive photon upconversion based on triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA‐UC) is promising due to its occurrence at low excitation intensity with high efficiency. This Minireview summarizes the recent developments of TTA‐UC switching by external stimuli such as temperature, oxygen, chemicals, light, electric field, and mechanical force. For the systematic understanding of the underlying general mechanisms, the switching mechanisms are categorized into four types: 1) aggregation‐induced UC; 2) assembly‐induced air‐stable UC; 3) diffusion‐controlled UC; and 4) energy‐transfer‐controlled UC. The development of stimuli‐responsive smart TTA‐UC systems would enable sensing with unprecedented sensitivity and selectivity, and expand the scope of TTA‐UC photochemistry by combination with supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, mechanochemistry, and biochemistry.     

Molecularly Dispersed Donors in Acceptor Molecular Crystals for Photon Upconversion under Low Excitation Intensity

For real‐world applications of photon upconversion based on the triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA‐UC), it is imperative to develop solid‐state TTA‐UC systems that work effectively under low excitation power comparable to solar irradiance. As an approach in this direction, aromatic crystals showing high triplet diffusivity are expected to serve as a useful platform. However, donor molecules inevitably tend to segregate from the host acceptor crystals, and this inhomogeneity results in the disappointing performance of crystalline state TTA‐UC. In this work, a series of cast‐film‐forming acceptors was developed, which provide both regular acceptor alignment and soft domains of alkyl chains that accommodate donor molecules without segregation. A typical triplet sensitizer, Pt^II octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), was dispersed in these acceptor crystals without aggregation. As a result, efficient triplet energy transfer from the donor to the acceptor and diffusion of triplet excitons among regularly aligned anthracene chromophores occurred. It resulted in TTA‐UC emission at low excitation intensities, comparable to solar irradiance.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Dual‐Color Photon Upconversion: A Singlet‐to‐Triplet Absorption Sensitizer in a Soft Luminescent Cyclophane

Reversible emission color switching of triplet–triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC) is achieved by employing an Os complex sensitizer with singlet‐to‐triplet (S‐T) absorption and an asymmetric luminescent cyclophane with switchable emission characteristics. The cyclophane contains the 9,10‐bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene unit as an emitter and can assemble into two different structures, a stable crystalline phase and a metastable supercooled nematic phase. The two structures exhibit green and yellow fluorescence, respectively, and can be accessed by distinct heating/cooling sequences. The hybridization of the cyclophane with the Os complex allows near‐infrared‐to‐visible TTA‐UC. The large anti‐Stokes shift is possible by the direct S‐T excitation, which dispenses with the use of a conventional sequence of singlet–singlet absorption and intersystem crossing. The TTA‐UC emission color is successfully switched between green and yellow by thermal stimulation.     

Discovery of Key TIPS‐Naphthalene for Efficient Visible‐to‐UV Photon Upconversion under Sunlight and Room Light**

While many studies have been done on triplet–triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC) to produce visible light with high efficiency, the efficient TTA‐UC from visible to UV light, despite its importance for a variety of solar and indoor applications, remains a challenging task. Here, we report the highest visible‐to‐UV TTA‐UC efficiency of 20.5 % based on the discovery of an excellent UV emitter, 1,4‐bis((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)naphthalene (TIPS‐Nph). TIPS‐Nph is an acceptor with desirable features of high fluorescence quantum yield and high singlet generation efficiency by TTA. TIPS‐Nph has a low enough triplet energy level to be sensitized by Ir(C6)₂(acac), a superior donor that does not quench UV emission. The combination of TIPS‐Nph and Ir(C6)₂(acac) realizes the efficient UV light production even with weak light sources such as an AM 1.5 solar simulator and room LEDs.     

Dual Upconverted and Downconverted Circularly Polarized Luminescence in Donor–Acceptor Assemblies

Through mimicking both the chiral and energy transfer in an artificial self‐assembled system, not only was chiral transfer realized but also a dual upconverted and downconverted energy transfer system was created that emit circularly polarized luminescence. The individual chiral π‐gelator can self‐assemble into a nanofiber exhibiting supramolecular chirality and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). In the presence of an achiral sensitizer Pd^II octaethylporphyrin derivative, both chirality transfer from chiral gelator to achiral sensitizer and triplet‐triplet energy transfer from excited sensitizer to chiral gelator could be realized. Upconverted CPL could be observed through a triplet–triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA‐UC), while downconverted CPL could be obtained from chirality‐transfer‐induced emission of the achiral sensitizer. The interplay between chiral energy acceptor and achiral sensitizer promoted the communication of chiral and excited energy information.     

Expanding Anti‐Stokes Shifting in Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion for In Vivo Anticancer Prodrug Activation

A strategy to expand anti‐Stokes shifting from the far‐red to deep‐blue region in metal‐free triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) is presented. The method is demonstrated by in vivo titration of the photorelease of an anticancer prodrug. This new TTA system has robust brightness and the longest anti‐Stokes shift of any reported TTA system. TTA core–shell‐structured prodrug delivery capsules that benefit from these properties were developed; they can operate with low‐power density far‐red light‐emitting diode light. These capsules contain mesoporous silica nanoparticles preloaded with TTA molecules as the core, and amphiphilic polymers encapsulating anticancer prodrug molecules as the shell. When stimulated by far‐red light, the intense TTA upconversion blue emission in the system activates the anticancer prodrug molecules and shows effective tumor growth inhibition in vivo. This work paves the way to new organic TTA upconversion techniques that are applicable to in vivo photocontrollable drug release and other biophotonic applications.     

Employing Core‐Shell Quantum Dots as Triplet Sensitizers for Photon Upconversion

A new family of surface‐functionalized CdSe/ZnS core‐shell quantum dots (csQD) has been developed, which work as triplet sensitizers for triplet‐triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC). The surface modification of csQD with acceptor molecules plays a key role in the efficient relay of the excited energy of csQD to emitter molecules in the bulk solution, where the generated emitter triplets undergo triplet‐triplet annihilation that leads to photon upconversion. Interestingly, improved UC properties were achieved with the core‐shell QDs compared with core‐only CdSe QDs (cQD). The threshold excitation intensity, which is defined as the necessary irradiance to achieve efficient TTA process, decreases by more than a factor of four. Furthermore, the total UC quantum yield is enhanced more than 50‐fold. These enhancements should be derived from better optical properties of csQD, in which the non‐radiative surface recombination sites are passivated by the shell layer with wider bandgap.     

Near‐Infrared Optogenetic Genome Engineering Based on Photon‐Upconversion Hydrogels

Photon upconversion (UC) from near‐infrared (NIR) light to visible light has enabled optogenetic manipulations in deep tissues. However, materials for NIR optogenetics have been limited to inorganic UC nanoparticles. Herein, NIR‐light‐triggered optogenetics using biocompatible, organic TTA‐UC hydrogels is reported. To achieve triplet sensitization even in highly viscous hydrogel matrices, a NIR‐absorbing complex is covalently linked with energy‐pooling acceptor chromophores, which significantly elongates the donor triplet lifetime. The donor and acceptor are solubilized in hydrogels formed from biocompatible Pluronic F127 micelles, and heat treatment endows the excited triplets in the hydrogel with remarkable oxygen tolerance. Combined with photoactivatable Cre recombinase technology, NIR‐light stimulation successfully performs genome engineering resulting in the formation of dendritic‐spine‐like structures of hippocampal neurons.     

Glassy poly(methacrylate) terpolymers with covalently attached emitters and sensitizers for low‐power light upconversion

Low‐power light upconversion by triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA‐UC) was only recently demonstrated in glassy polymers and the upconversion efficiency in these materials is typically much lower than in solution. As aggregation of the chromophores was thought to be the culprit, we here report the covalent tethering of a suitable chromophore pair to a polymeric backbone. The new materials were based on the sensitizer‐bearing monomer palladium meso‐phenoxy‐tris(heptyl)porphyrin‐ethylmethacrylate (PdmPH3PMA), which was copolymerized with a diphenylanthrancene methacrylate (DPAMA), as the emitter‐bearing monomer, and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as an optically inert comonomer. The DPA content was kept within a narrow range of 30–37 wt %, while the PdmPH3PMA content was varied between 0.73 and 0.012 wt %. To explore additional compositions, blends of a high‐porphyrin‐content terpolymer with a DPAMA‐MMA copolymer were also prepared. All of the materials studied were processed into thin films by solution‐casting and displayed blue TTA‐UC emission. The UC emission intensity was found to strongly depend on the composition and the underlying effects were investigated through a systematic study. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1629–1639     

Pd–Porphyrin Oligomers Sensitized for Green‐to‐Blue Photon Upconversion: The More the Better?

A series of directly meso‐meso‐linked Pd–porphyrin oligomers (PdDTP‐M, PdDTP‐D, and PdDTP‐T) have been prepared. The absorption region and the light‐harvesting ability of the Pd–porphyrin oligomers are broadened and enhanced by increasing the number of Pd–porphyrin units. Triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) systems were constructed by utilizing the Pd–porphyrin oligomers as the sensitizer and 9,10‐diphenylanthracene (DPA) as the acceptor in deaerated toluene and green‐to‐blue photon upconversion was observed upon excitation with a 532 nm laser. The triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion quantum efficiencies were found to be 6.2 %, 10.5 %, and 1.6 % for the [PdDTP‐M]/DPA, [PdDTP‐D]/DPA, and [PdDTP‐T]/DPA systems, respectively, under an excitation power density of 500 mW cm^?2. The photophysical processes of the TTA‐UC systems have been investigated in detail. The higher triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion quantum efficiency observed in the [PdDTP‐D]/DPA system can be rationalized by the enhanced light‐harvesting ability of PdDTP‐D at 532 nm. Under the same experimental conditions, the [PdDTP‐D]/DPA system produces more ³DPA* than the other two TTA‐UC systems, benefiting the triplet–triplet annihilation process. This work provides a useful way to develop efficient TTA‐UC systems with broad spectral response by using Pd–porphyrin oligomers as sensitizers.     

Tuning the emissive triplet excited states of platinum(II) Schiff base complexes with pyrene, and application for luminescent oxygen sensing and triplet-triplet-annihilation based upconversions

Pt(II) Schiff base complexes containing pyrene subunits were prepared using the chemistry-on-complex approach. This is the first time that supramolecular photochemical approach has been used to tune the photophysical properties of Schiff base Pt(II) complexes, such as emission wavelength and lifetimes. The complexes show intense absorption in the visible region (ε = 13100 M(-1) cm(-1) at 534 nm) and red phosphorescence at room temperature. Notably, much longer triplet excited state lifetimes (τ = 21.0 μs) were observed, compared to the model complexes (τ = 4.4 μs). The extension of triplet excited state lifetimes is attributed to the establishment of equilibrium between the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) state (coordination centre localized) and the intraligand ((3)IL) state (pyrene localized), or population of the long-lived (3)IL triplet excited state. These assignments were fully rationalized by nanosecond time-resolved difference absorption spectra, 77 K emission spectra and density functional theory calculations. The complexes were used as triplet sensitizers for triplet-triplet-energy-tranfer (TTET) processes, i.e. luminescent O(2) sensing and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) based upconversion. The O(2) sensitivity (Stern-Volmer quenching constant) of the complexes was quantitatively evaluated in polymer films. The results show that the O(2) sensing sensitivity of the pyrene containing complex (K(SV) = 0.04623 Torr(-1)) is 15-fold of the model complex (K(SV) = 0.00313 Torr(-1)). Furthermore, significant TTA upconversion (upconversion quantum yield Φ(UC) = 17.7% and the anti-Stokes shift is 0.77 eV) was observed with pyrene containing complexes being used as triplet sensitizers. Our approach to tune the triplet excited states of Pt(II) Schiff base complexes will be useful for the design of phosphorescent transition metal complexes and their applications in light-harvesting, photovoltaics, luminescent O(2) sensing and upconversion, etc.     

Chiral self-assembly regulated photon upconversion based on triplet-triplet annihilation

Triplet-triplet annihilation based photon upconversion (TTA-UC) were constructed successfully by chiral self-assembly strategy.Enhanced TTA-UC could be obtained in the racemic assemblies compared with the homochiral assemblies.     

Chiral self-assembly regulated photon upconversion based on triplet-triplet annihilation

Photon upconversion (UC) based on triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) in quasi-solid or solid state has been attracting much research interest due to its great potential applications. To get effective UC, precisely controlled donor-acceptor interaction is vitally important. Chiral self-assembly provides a powerful approach for sophisticated regulation of molecular interaction. Here we report a chiral self-assembly controlled TTA-UC system composed of chiral acceptor and achiral donor. It is found that racemic mixture of acceptors could form straight fibrous nanostructures, which show strong UC emission, while chiral assemblies for homochiral acceptors emit weak upconverted light. The racemic assemblies allow efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and further realize efficient UC emission, while the homochiral assemblies from chiral acceptor produce twisted nanostructures, suppressing efficient triplet energy transfer and annihilation. The establishment of such chiral self-assembly controlled UC system highlights the potential applications of triplet fusion in optoelectronic materials and provides a new perspective for designing highly effective UC systems.     

Stimuli-Responsive Molecular Photon Upconversion

The addition of stimuli-responsiveness to anti-Stokes emission provides a unique platform for biosensing and chemosensing. Particularly, stimuli-responsive photon upconversion based on triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) is promising due to its occurrence at low excitation intensity with high efficiency. This Minireview summarizes the recent developments of TTA-UC switching by external stimuli such as temperature, oxygen, chemicals, light, electric field, and mechanical force. For the systematic understanding of the underlying general mechanisms, the switching mechanisms are categorized into four types: 1) aggregation-induced UC; 2) assembly-induced air-stable UC; 3) diffusion-controlled UC; and 4) energy-transfer-controlled UC. The development of stimuli-responsive smart TTA-UC systems would enable sensing with unprecedented sensitivity and selectivity, and expand the scope of TTA-UC photochemistry by combination with supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, mechanochemistry, and biochemistry.     

Conjugated Polyelectrolyte‐Induced Self‐Assembly of Alkynylplatinum(II) 2,6‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine Complexes

Water‐soluble cationic alkynylplatinum(II) 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine (bzimpy) complexes have been demonstrated to undergo supramolecular assembly with anionic polyelectrolytes in aqueous buffer solution. Metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) absorptions and triplet MMLCT (³MMLCT) emissions have been found in UV/Vis absorption and emission spectra of the electrostatic assembly of the complexes with non‐conjugated polyelectrolytes, driven by Pt???Pt and π–π interactions among the complex molecules. Interestingly, the two‐component ensemble formed by [Pt(bzimpy‐Et){C?CC₆H₄(CH₂NMe₃‐4)}]Cl₂ ( 1 ) with para‐linked conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE), PPE‐SO₃^?, shows significantly different photophysical properties from that of the ensemble formed by 1 with meta‐linked CPE, mPPE‐Ala. The helical conformation of mPPE‐Ala allows the formation of strong mPPE‐Ala– 1 aggregates with Pt???Pt, electrostatic, and π–π interactions, as revealed by the large Stern–Volmer constant at low concentrations of 1 . Together with the reasonably large Förster radius, large HOMO–LUMO gap and high triplet state energy of mPPE‐Ala to minimize both photo‐induced charge transfer (PCT) and Dexter triplet energy back‐transfer (TEBT) quenching of the emission of 1 , efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from mPPE‐Ala to aggregated 1 molecules and strong ³MMLCT emission have been found, while the less strong PPE‐SO₃^?– 1 aggregates and probably more efficient PCT and Dexter TEBT quenching would account for the lack of ³MMLCT emission in the PPE‐SO₃^?– 1 ensemble.     

Organic triplet sensitizer library derived from a single chromophore (BODIPY) with long-lived triplet excited state for triplet-triplet annihilation based upconversion

Triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) based upconversions are attractive as a result of their readily tunable excitation/emission wavelength, low excitation power density, and high upconversion quantum yield. For TTA upconversion, triplet sensitizers and acceptors are combined to harvest the irradiation energy and to acquire emission at higher energy through triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and TTA processes. Currently the triplet sensitizers are limited to the phosphorescent transition metal complexes, for which the tuning of UV-vis absorption and T(1) excited state energy level is difficult. Herein for the first time we proposed a library of organic triplet sensitizers based on a single chromophore of boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY). The organic sensitizers show intense UV-vis absorptions at 510-629 nm (ε up to 180,000 M(-1) cm(-1)). Long-lived triplet excited state (τ(T) up to 66.3 μs) is populated upon excitation of the sensitizers, proved by nanosecond time-resolved transient difference absorption spectra and DFT calculations. With perylene or 1-chloro-9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (1CBPEA) as the triplet acceptors, significant upconversion (Φ(UC) up to 6.1%) was observed for solution samples and polymer films, and the anti-Stokes shift was up to 0.56 eV. Our results pave the way for the design of organic triplet sensitizers and their applications in photovoltaics and upconversions, etc.     

Controlling Aqueous Self‐Assembly Mechanisms by Hydrophobic Interactions

We report an innovative template‐assisted synthetic protocol for the selective functionalization of terminal triple bonds in oligophenyleneethynylenes (OPE) by pre‐organization in aqueous solution. By this approach, three new OPE‐based bolaamphiphiles substituted with hydrophilic poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) chains of different length have been synthesized. The chain length was observed to strongly influence the aqueous supramolecular polymerization: bolaamphiphiles with longer hydrophilic chains aggregate into spherical nanoparticles in a stepwise fashion, whereas 2D anisotropic platelets are formed cooperatively if shorter PEtOx chains are used. Our results demonstrate that hydrophobic interactions can be strong enough to trigger cooperative effects in aqueous self‐assembly processes.     

High‐Performance Oxygen Sensors Based on EuIII Complex/Polystyrene Composite Nanofibrous Membranes Prepared by Electrospinning

An optical oxygen sensor based on an Eu^III complex/polystyrene (PS) composite nanofibrous membrane is prepared by electrospinning. The emission intensity of [Eu(TTA)₃(phencarz)] (TTA=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate, phencarz=2‐(N‐ethylcarbazolyl‐4)imidazo[4,5‐f]1,10‐phenanthroline) decreases with increasing oxygen concentration, and thus the [Eu(TTA)₃ (phencarz)]/PS composite nanofibrous membranes can be used as an optical oxygen‐sensing material based on emission quenching caused by oxygen. Elemental analysis, UV/Vis absorption spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, luminescence‐intensity quenching Stern–Volmer plots, and excited‐state decay analysis are used to characterize the obtained oxygen‐sensing materials. A high sensitivity (I_N2/I_O2) of 3.38 and short response and recovery times (t_↓=5.0, t_↑=8.0 s) are obtained. These results are the best values reported for oxygen sensors based on Eu^III complexes. The high surface area‐to‐volume ratio and porous structure of the electrospun nanofibrous membranes are taken to be responsible for the outstanding performance.     

X-RAY INDUCED VISIBLE LUMINESCENCE OF PORPHYRINS

A concept has been presented whereby X-ray irradiation can be used to induce visible luminescence of chromophores such as porphyrins. The essential aspects of the idea have been demonstrated in a supramolecular assembly consisting of a water-dispersed polystyrene latex with an embedded scintillating compound, 2,5-diphenyloxa-zole, and an externally attached hematoporphyrin. X-ray excitation of the assembly yields an emission spectra typical for hematoporphyrin with fluorescent yields. of up to 3% with respect to 2,5-diphenyloxazole emission. Significant quenching in the presence of dioxygen indicates that singlet oxygen is formed at atmospheric conditions.