TET-Lanthanide | Triplet Energy Transfer at Hybrid Organic-Lanthanide Nanoparticle Interfaces

Summary
The generation, control and transfer of triplet excitons in molecular and hybrid systems is of great interest for optoelectronic applications such as light emission, singlet fission and upconversion, as well as for sensitization and triggering photochemical reactions. Recently, the host group has discovered that it is possible to couple molecular triplet excitons to the f→f transitions of lanthanide nanocrystals, efficiently transferring energy between them. This allows for the direct generation of triplet excitons with near-IR excitation and luminescent harvesting of the dark triplet excitons via transfer to lanthanide nanocrystals. This discovery also opens up a promising new avenue for photochemistry/photocatalysis applications, as LnNPs are both non-toxic and highly photostable even within aqueous environments.

The project will build on this discovery to develop the fundamental science of this new platform for optoelectronics and photochemistry. Specifically, we will develop a series of highly controlled solution phase systems, where organic molecules will be directly covalently attached to the lanthanide nanocrystals. The lanthanide doping concentration of the nanoparticles, as well as the distance between organic and lanthanide will be carefully controlled to produce model systems. These systems will then be studied with steady state and time resolved spectroscopy with the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanism controlling the triplet exciton transfer and coupling between triplets and lanthanide ions. We will also perform a proof of concept experiment to demonstrate the use of these systems for photo-catalysis. These fundamental investigations will open up new possibilities for optoelectronics, molecular sensing, upconversion, photocatalysis and bio-imaging.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/797619
Start date: 01-03-2018
End date: 29-02-2020
Total budget - Public funding: 183 454,80 Euro - 183 454,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The generation, control and transfer of triplet excitons in molecular and hybrid systems is of great interest for optoelectronic applications such as light emission, singlet fission and upconversion, as well as for sensitization and triggering photochemical reactions. Recently, the host group has discovered that it is possible to couple molecular triplet excitons to the f→f transitions of lanthanide nanocrystals, efficiently transferring energy between them. This allows for the direct generation of triplet excitons with near-IR excitation and luminescent harvesting of the dark triplet excitons via transfer to lanthanide nanocrystals. This discovery also opens up a promising new avenue for photochemistry/photocatalysis applications, as LnNPs are both non-toxic and highly photostable even within aqueous environments.

The project will build on this discovery to develop the fundamental science of this new platform for optoelectronics and photochemistry. Specifically, we will develop a series of highly controlled solution phase systems, where organic molecules will be directly covalently attached to the lanthanide nanocrystals. The lanthanide doping concentration of the nanoparticles, as well as the distance between organic and lanthanide will be carefully controlled to produce model systems. These systems will then be studied with steady state and time resolved spectroscopy with the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanism controlling the triplet exciton transfer and coupling between triplets and lanthanide ions. We will also perform a proof of concept experiment to demonstrate the use of these systems for photo-catalysis. These fundamental investigations will open up new possibilities for optoelectronics, molecular sensing, upconversion, photocatalysis and bio-imaging.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2017

Update Date

28-04-2024
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
EU-Programme-Call
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
MSCA-IF-2017