Lanthanide-Sensitized Upconversion Iridium Complex via Triplet Energy Transfer

Cyclometalated iridium (Ir) complexes demonstrate impressive capabilities across a range of fields, including biology and photocatalysis, due to their tunable optical characteristics and structure flexibility. However, generating upconversion luminescence of Ir complexes under near-infrared light excitation is challenging. Herein, by employing lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the sensitizer, a new strategy is demonstrated to gain upconversion luminescence of Ir complexes via triplet energy transfer. This design relies on a rationally designed hybrid of core-shell structured NaYbF₄:Tb@NaTbF₄ UCNPs and new Ir phosphonate complexes, in which UCNPs can migrate upconverted energy to the surface of nanoparticles through Tb³⁺-mediated energy migration and then sensitize the upconversion luminescence of Ir complexes upon 980 nm excitation. Both experimental and theoretical investigations highlight the significance of triplet energy transfer from excited Tb³⁺ ions to the triplet state of Ir complexes in the sensitization of upconversion luminescence of Ir complexes. These findings may open exciting avenues for fabricating hybrid Ir materials with new functions and driving the development of UCNP-based nanomaterials.