Tunable Phosphorescence/Fluorescence Dual Emissions of Organic Isoquinoline-Benzophenone Doped Systems by Alkoxy Engineering

Dual/multi-component organic doped systems with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) properties have been developed. However, the unknown luminescence mechanism still greatly limits the development of the doped materials. Herein, a new doped system exhibiting phosphorescence/fluorescence dual emission (Φ_phos=4–24 % and τ_phos=101–343 ms) is successfully constructed through prediction and design. A series of isoquinoline derivatives with different alkoxy chains were selected as the guests. Benzophenone was chosen as the host owing to the characteristics of low melting point and good crystallinity. The alkoxy chain lengths of the guests are first reported to be used to control the fluorescence and phosphorescence intensities of the doped materials, which results in different prompt emission colors. Additionally, the doped ratio of the guest and host can also control the luminous intensities of the materials. In particular, the doped materials still exhibit phosphorescent properties even if the ratio of the guest/host is as low as 1:100 000.     

Two-Coordinate Copper(I)/NHC Complexes: Dual Emission Properties and Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence

As a kind of photoluminescent material, Cu^I complexes have many advantages such as adjustable emission, variable structures, and low cost, attracting attention in many fields. In this work, two novel two-coordinate Cu^I-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes were synthesized, and they exhibit unique dual emission properties, fluorescence and phosphorescence. The crystal structure, packing mode, and photophysical properties under different conditions were systematically studied, proving the emissive mechanism to be the locally excited state of the carbazole group. Based on this mechanism, ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with a lifetime of 140 ms is achieved by selective deuteration of the carbazole group. These results deepen the understanding of the luminescence mechanism and design strategy for two-coordinate Cu^I complexes, and prove their potential in applications as ultralong RTP materials.     

Analytical Conditions and Data for Cyclodextrin Induced Solid-Surface Room-Temperature Luminescence of Selected Compounds

Abstract

α-Cyclodextrin-NaCl mixtures were studied as solid-surface substrates for inducing room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and fluorescence (RTF). The optimum conditions for inducing room-temperature luminescence were investigated extensively for four model compounds. Experimental conditions such as solvent, drying temperature, and surface atmosphere of the sample had a significant effect on luminescence signals. Furthermore, the analytical aspects of cyclodextrin induced solid-surface room-temperature luminescence (CISS-RTL) such as spectral characteristics, linear dynamic range, reproducibility of signal, and limits of detection were obtained. This is the first report of analytical figures of merit for the solid-surface luminescence of organic compounds mixed with α-cyclodextrin-NaCl.     

Inclusion complexes naphthalene-γ-cyclodextrin-adamantane and naphthalene-γ-cyclodextrin-o-carborane: the structure and luminescence properties

The luminescence properties of inclusion complexes of naphthalene-d₈ with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) in the presence of adamantane or o-carborane added as third parties were studied in aqueous solutions. It was found that the structure of the cage compound added to the aqueous solution of the naphthalene-d₈@γ-CD complex completely determines the luminescence type of the ternary complex. For instance, the intensity of excimer fluorescence (EF) band increases considerably at the expense of reduction of the intensity of monomer fluorescence (MF) band on adding adamantane. On the contrary, adding o-carborane causes a decrease in the intensity of the EF band of naphthalene-d₈ and simultaneous appearance of MF in addition to long-lived room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) whose lifetime increases from 1.5 s to 9.1 s after deoxygenation of the solution. Structural differences between the complexes affecting their behavior under the action of the third parties were explained using the results of semiempirical quantum chemical calculations.     

Luminescence Properties and Analytical Figures of Merits of Benzo(a)Pyrene Guanosine Adduct Adsorbed on α- β- and γ-Cyclodextrin/NaCl,and Trehalose/NaCl Solid Matrices

Abstract

Several cyclodextrin/NaCl and trehalose/NaCl mixtures were investigated as solid matrices for obtaining room-temperature luminescence from a benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) guanosine adduct. Room-temperature fluorescence (RTF) and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) intensities from the B(a)P-guanosine adduct were compared for different solid matrices. These results showed that 25% trehalose/NaCl, 1% α-cyclodextrin/NaCl, and 1% γ-cyclodextrin/NaCl solid matrices yielded strong fluorescence signals and moderately strong phosphorescence signals at room temperature from the B(a)P-guanosine adduct. In addition, the luminescence properties of pyrene, guanosine, guanosine 3′ -monophosphate free acid and guanosine 3′-monophosphate sodium salt on 1% α-, β-, and γ- cyclodextrin/NaCl solid matrices were obtained.     

Analytical and mechanistic aspects of the room-temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence of benzo(f)quinoline adsorbed on silica gel chromatoplates with humidified gases

The solid-matrix room-temperature fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence properties of benzo(f)quinoline adsorbed on silica gel chromatoplates were investigated over a wide range of humidities in N(2), air and O(2). Both neutral and acidic conditions were used and even at the highest relative humidity used, 93% relative humidity, the room-temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence intensities from benzo(f)quinoline were not totally quenched. However, in all experiments, the room-temperature phosphorescence was much more sensitive to humidity quenching than the room-temperature fluorescence. The results gave rather detailed information on quenching of the room-temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence in the different gases at a variety of humidities. It was possible to calculate the contribution to the percent decrease in luminescence due to moisture or a quenching gas. Thus, a more detailed assessment could be made about the quenching of moisture and individual quenching gases on the solid-matrix fluorescence and phosphorescence.     

Luminescence Properties and Analytical Figures of Merit of the Tetrols of Benzo(A)Pyrene-Dna Adducts Adsorbed on α-, β- and γ- Cyclodextrin/Nacl Mixtures

Abstract

Several cyclodextrin/NaCl mixtures were investigated as solid matrices for obtaining room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and room-temperature fluorescence (RTF). The optimum experimental conditions for obtaining both RTF and RTP for the four tetrols were explored. Also, luminescence spectra, limits of detection, and linear ranges for calibration curves were acquired. This is the first report of the solid-matrix luminescence analytical figures of merit for the tetrols on cyclodextrin solid matrices.     

Mechanochromic luminescence of soft crystals: Recent systematic studies in controlling the molecular packing and mechanoresponsive properties

Soft crystals are a class of smart materials that can switch their photophysical or mechanical properties in response to gentle external stimuli. A representative stimuli-responsive behavior of soft crystals is mechanochromic luminescence (MCL), i.e., a reversible color change of solid-state photoluminescence induced by external mechanical stimuli. Together with the rapid growth in the area of solid-state photoluminescence including fluorescence, room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), white-light emission (WLE), and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), a number of soft crystals that exhibit MCL behaviors have been reported during the past decade. In the typical MCL of soft crystals, the emission color switches in the bathochromic direction upon amorphization by grinding and recovers to the original color upon recrystallization by heating or exposure to organic solvents. Relatively few are known to exhibit hypsochromically shifted MCL, two-step MCL, self-recovering MCL, or mechanical-stimuli-induced single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transitions. Rational design guidelines to control the mechanoresponsive properties of soft crystals have not yet been established. This review summarizes the systematic studies on the substituent effect to control the MCL properties of soft crystals. Recent studies provide useful insights into the effects of electronic and steric differences of substituents on crystal structure, luminescence properties, and mechanoresponsive behaviors.     

The solid-matrix room-temperature luminescence detection and characterization of polyaromatic hydrocarbons without a heavy atom

A selective and sensitive method to detect polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) using a new solid-matrix room-temperature luminescence technique is presented. The solid-matrix room-temperature fluorescence (SMRTF) and phosphorescence (SMRTP) of PAH can be readily obtained by adsorbing a PAH on Whatman 1PS filter paper. Strong phosphorescence can be detected without adding a heavy atom. Detection limits, ranging from 0.12 to 18 ng, were obtained for several PAH.     

Comparison of the Solution Luminescence Properties and Solid-Matrix Luminescence Properties of 2-Amino-1-Methyl-6-Phenylimidazo[4,5-B]Pyridine

Abstract

The solution fluorescence properties of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) were compared with the solid-matrix luminescence properties of PhIP. The fluorescence properties were obtained in ethanol and several binary solutions of ethanol:water. An ethanol solution of PhIP gave a very strong fluorescence signal and the ethanol:water solutions only showed a small increase in the fluorescence signal. Acidic solutions of PhIP in ethanol:water (7:3) showed a major decrease in fluorescence intensity with at HCl of 10^?4 M and greater, but NaOH solutions of PhIP did not affect the fluorescence intensity to any great extent. Both acidic and basic solutions gave fluorescence emission spectra that were shifted to longer wavelengths. Solid-matrix room-temperature fluorescence (SMRTF) and solid-matrix room-temperature phosphorescence (SMRTP) were readily obtained on filter paper. SMRTP showed some distinct advantages over SMRTF and gave a limit of detection of 0.2 ng on filter paper. Several aspects of both solution luminescence and solid-matrix luminescence of PhIP are discussed.     

Converting molecular luminescence to ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence via the excited state modulation of sulfone-containing heteroaromatics

Manipulating the molecular orbital properties of excited states and the subsequent relaxation processes can greatly alter the emission behaviors of luminophores. Herein we report a vivid example of this, with luminescence conversion from thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) to ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (URTP) via a facile substituent effect on a rigid benzothiazino phenothiazine tetraoxide (BTPO) core. Pristine BTPO with multiple heteroatoms shows obvious intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) excited states with small exchange energy, featuring TADF. Via delicately functionalizing the BTPO core with peripheral moieties, the excited states of the BTPO derivatives become a hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) state in the S₁ state and a local excitation (LE) dominated HLCT state in the T₁ state, with enlarged energy bandgaps. Upon dispersion in a polymer matrix, the BTPO derivatives exhibit a persistent bright green afterglow with long lifetimes of up to 822 ms and decent quantum yields of up to 11.6%.

The decoration of a BTPO core results in a change in the luminescence nature from TADF to URTP. The phosphors in an amorphous PMMA matrix showed monomeric URTP with phosphorescence lifetimes of up to 822 ms and quantum yields of up to 11.6%.     

Efficient and organic host–guest room-temperature phosphorescence: tunable triplet–singlet crossing and theoretical calculations for molecular packing

Organic host–guest doped materials exhibiting the room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) phenomenon have attracted considerable attention. However, it is still challenging to investigate their corresponding luminescence mechanism, because for host–guest systems, it is very difficult to obtain single crystals compared to single-component or co-crystal component materials. Herein, we developed a series of organic doped materials with triphenylamine (TPA) as the host and TPA derivatives with different electron-donating groups as guests. The doped materials showed strong fluorescence, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (τ: 39–47 ms), and efficient room temperature phosphorescence (Φ_phos: 7.3–9.1%; τ: 170–262 ms). The intensity ratio between the delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence was tuned by the guest species and concentration. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to simulate the molecular conformation of guest molecules in the host matrix and the interaction between the host and guest molecules. Therefore, the photophysical properties were calculated using the QM/MM model. This work provides a new concept for the study of molecular packing of guest molecules in the host matrix.

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to simulate the molecular conformation and interaction between hosts and guests. This work provides a new concept for the study of molecular packing for the investigation of the luminescence mechanism.     

Time-resolved analysis of photoluminescence at a single wavelength for ratiometric and multiplex biosensing and bioimaging

Simultaneous analysis of luminescence signals of multiple probes can improve the accuracy and efficiency of biosensing and bioimaging. Analysis of multiple signals at different wavelengths usually suffers from spectral overlap, possible energy transfer, and difference in detection efficiency. Herein, we reported a polymeric luminescent probe, which was composed of a phenothiazine-based fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent iridium(iii) complex. Both luminophores emitted at around 600 nm but their luminescence lifetimes are 160 times different, allowing time-resolved independent analysis. As the fluorescence was enhanced in response to oxidation by hypochlorite and the phosphorescence was sensitive toward oxygen quenching, a four-dimensional relationship between luminescence intensity, fluorescence/phosphorescence ratio, hypochlorite concentration, and oxygen content was established. In cellular imaging, time-resolved photoluminescence imaging microscopy clearly showed the independent fluorescence response toward hypochlorite and phosphorescence response toward oxygen in separated time intervals. This work opens up a new idea for the development of multiplex biosensing and bioimaging.

A single-wavelength dual-emissive polymeric probe shows fluorescence enhancement toward ClO⁻ and phosphorescence quenching toward O₂, allowing simultaneously imaging cellular ClO⁻ and O₂via time-resolved photoluminescence imaging microscopy.     

Effects of Intermolecular Interactions on Luminescence Property in Organic Molecules

The organic solid-state lightemitting materials have attracted more and more attention owing to their promising applications in displays, lasers and optical communications. In contrast to isolated molecule, there are various weak intermolecular interactions in organic solids that sometimes have a large impact on the excited-state properties and energy dissipation pathways, resulting in strong fluorescence/phosphorescence. It is increasingly necessary to reveal the luminescence mechanism of organic solids. Here, we briefly review how intermolecular interactions induce strong normal fluorescence, thermally activate delayed fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence in organic solids by examining changes in geometry, electronic structures, electron-vibration coupling and energy dissipation dynamics of the excited states from isolated to aggregated molecules. We hope that the review will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the excited state properties of organic solids and to the design of excellent solid-state light-emitting materials.     

Study of the substituent groups effect on the room-temperature phosphorescent emission of fluorene derivatives in solution

We present here the first study of the effect of substituent groups and the chemical structure of fluorene derivatives on phosphorescent emission. A group of fluorene derivatives have been studied with a new methodology of room-temperature phosphorescence emission called heavy atom induced room-temperature phosphorescence (HAI-RTP). This methodology makes use of RTP emission directly from the compound in fluid solution, without a protective medium but only with the presence of high concentrations of heavy atom perturbers and an oxygen scavenger. These experimental conditions permit sufficient interaction between the perturbers and the phosphors to produce effective population of the triplet states of the latter and, consequently, intense phosphorescent emission. Good deoxygenation conditions are obtained using sodium sulfite as the oxygen scavenger. We show here that it is possible that many fluorene derivatives can exhibit RTP emission in aqueous solutions in the absence of a protective medium. Phosphorescence spectral characteristics of these compounds (excitation and emission wavelengths and lifetime) and the optimization of the chemical variables involved in the phosphorescence phenomenon are reported. Under optimal experimental conditions, calibration graphs and detection and quantification limits in the ng ml⁻¹ level have been established.     

Thermally Activated Long Persistent Luminescence of Organic Inorganic Metal Halides

Long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials of SrAl₂O₄ doped with Eu²⁺ or Dy³⁺ can maintain emission over hours after ceasing the excitation but suffer from insolubility, high cost, and harsh preparation. Recently, organic LPL of guest-host exciplex systems has been demonstrated via an intermediate charge-separated state with flexible design but poor air-stability. Here, we synthesized a nontoxic two-dimensional organic–inorganic metal hybrid halides (OIMHs), called PBA₂[ZnX₄] with X=Br or Cl and PBA=4-phenylbenzylamine. These materials exhibit stable LPL emission over minutes at room-temperature, which is two orders of magnitude longer than those of previously reported OIMHs. The mechanism study shows that the LPL emission comes from thermally activated charge separation state rather than room-temperature phosphorescence. Moreover, the LPL of PBA₂[ZnX₄] can be excited by low power sources, representing an effective strategy for developing low-cost and high-stability LPL systems.     

Multiple Luminescence Responses towards Mechanical Stimulus and Photo-Induction: The Key Role of the Stuck Packing Mode and Tunable Intermolecular Interactions

Organic luminescence with different forms continues to be one of the most active research fields in science and technology. Herein, an ultra-simple organic molecule (TPA-B), which exhibits both mechanoluminescence (ML) and photo-induced room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in the crystalline state, provides an opportunity to reveal the internal mechanism of ML and the dynamic process of photo-induced RTP in the same molecule. Through the detailed investigation of photophysical properties together with crystal structures, the key role of molecular packing and intermolecular interactions was highlighted in the luminescence response by mechanical and light stimulus, affording efficient strategies to design potential smart functional materials with multiple luminescence properties.     

Fluorescent/phosphorescent dual-emissive conjugated polymer dots for hypoxia bioimaging

A kind of fluorescent/phosphorescent dual-emissive conjugated polyelectrolyte has been prepared by introducing phosphorescent platinum(ii) porphyrin (O₂-sensitive) into a fluorene-based conjugated polyelectrolyte (O₂-insensitive), which can form ultrasmall conjugated polymer dots (FP-Pdots) in the phosphate buffer solution (PBS) via self-assembly caused by their amphiphilic structures with hydrophobic backbones and hydrophilic side chains. These FP-Pdots can exhibit an excellent ratiometric luminescence response to O₂ content with high reliability and full reversibility for measuring oxygen levels, and the excellent intracellular ratiometric O₂ sensing properties of the FP-Pdots nanoprobe have also been confirmed by the evident change in the I _red/I _blue ratio values in living cells cultured at different O₂ concentrations. To confirm the reliability of the O₂ sensing measurements of the FP-Pdots nanoprobe, O₂ quenching experiments based on lifetime measurements of phosphorescence from Pt(ii) porphyrin moieties have also been carried out. Utilizing the sensitivity of the long phosphorescence lifetime from Pt(ii) porphyrins to oxygen, the FP-Pdots have been successfully applied in time-resolved luminescence imaging of intracellular O₂ levels, including photoluminescence lifetime imaging and time-gated luminescence imaging, which will evidently improve the sensing sensitivity and reliability. Finally, in vivo oxygen sensing experiments were successfully performed by luminescence imaging of tumor hypoxia in nude mice.     

Dual Emission from Precious Metal-Free Luminophores Consisting of C,H, O,Si, and S/P at Room Temperature

Fluorescence–phosphorescence dual-emissive compounds are valuable tools for ratiometric luminescence sensing. Herein, it is reported that 2,5-bis(phenylsulfonyl)- and 2,5-bis[bis(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphinyl]-1,4-disiloxybenzenes exhibit dual emission with emission peaks that were easily identified without performing time-gated measurement. The disiloxybenzenes in powder simultaneously fluoresced and phosphoresced at 358–374 and 457–470 nm, respectively, under vacuum. The intensity ratios of the phosphorescence/fluorescence maxima of the disiloxybenzenes in powder and in a thin film of poly(methyl methacrylate) were sensitive to temperature and molecular oxygen, respectively. The plots of the relative intensity versus temperature or partial pressure of molecular oxygen were well fitted with calibration curves defined by an exponential approximation with excellent correlation coefficients R² (0.9708–0.9921), demonstrating the high potential of the disiloxybenzenes as precious metal-free probes applicable to ratiometric luminescence sensing.     

Specifics of deactivation processes of excited states of thiacarbocyanine dyes adsorbed on cellulose

Spectral and kinetic study on deactivation processes of electronically excited states of molecules of cationic (Dye1, Dye2 and anionic (Dye3–Dye5) thiacarbocyanine dyes adsorbed on cellulose was performed. Adsorption of the dyes leads to an increase in the concentration of dimers. The dimers of adsorbates of Dye3–Dye5 exhibit only phosphorescence, whereas the monomers of the adsorbates are capable of both phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence. Adsorbates of Dye3–Dye5 prepared from water and methanol exhibit phosphorescence of cis-monomers. Adsorbates of Dye1 from water and ethanol as well as adsorbates of Dye2–Dye5 from chloroform exhibit delayed fluorescence of trans-monomers. Phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence are observed at room temperature in the presence of air oxygen.