Themed collection Photon Upconversion Materials
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Optical up-conversion devices based on organic and inorganic quantum dot materials
Infrared (IR) to visible up-conversion devices made by incorporating IR detectors with visible emitting units are able to directly convert IR light into visible light.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 7833-7844
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC00083H
Switching between upconversion luminescence imaging and therapy in vitro enabled by NIR excitation modulation of nanocomposites
We synthesized a theranostics-integrated nanocomposite capable of switching between upconversion luminescence imaging and photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy/NO gas therapy by changing the wavelength of near-infrared light irradiation.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 11938-11947
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01535E
Bifunctional upconverting luminescent-magnetic FeS2@NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ core@shell nanocomposites with tunable luminescence for temperature sensing
Multifunctional core@shell type FeS2@NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanocomposites emit bright, color tunable UC photoluminescence and magnetic activity. We confirmed optical temperature sensing capability and rarely reported sensing of the laser power density.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 11824-11835
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01117A
Accurate & cheap calculations of the lowest triplet state energy: an experimentalist's guide
We demonstrate that the lowest triplet energy of many technologically relevant molecules can be inexpensively calculated. This will be particularly useful for triplet–triplet annihilation and singlet fission applications.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC02241F
Tailoring thermal expansion and luminescence thermometric performance of KMgScW3O12-based compounds
Negative thermal expansion compounds provide an opportunity to understand the nature of thermal expansion and engineering applications of inorganic solid functional materials. This work gives a suitable case to investigate the relationship between thermal expansion and luminescence thermal behavior.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 11569-11578
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC00711E
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How to tune luminescent Cu(I) complexes with strong donor carbenes towards TADF?
Design principles of Cu(I) complexes to induce thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) behaviour with an electron-rich carbene moiety are elucidated by means of time-resolved luminescence and high-quality quantum chemical calculations.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 10036-10052
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01487A
Photophysical properties and excited-state dynamics of donor–acceptor–heavy-atom molecules and their application in triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion
A novel series of donor–acceptor–heavy-atom (D–A–H) molecules that simultaneously implement both photoinduced electron transfer and heavy atom effect strategies.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 9760-9772
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC00491D
Modulation of phosphor luminescence performance by high concentration self-sensitization of Er and Ho–Yb ion co-doping under 1550 nm excitation
The role played by high concentration doping of Er3+ ions under 1550 nm excitation and the response mechanism of Ho3+ ions to 1550 nm photons.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 9784-9794
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC00859F
Giant enhancement of anti-quenching upconversion luminescence in Sc2W3O12:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors for temperature sensing
Giant enhancement of anti-quenching upconversion luminescence is achieved in the Sc2W3O12:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors by (KMg)3+ impurity doping, and the phosphors are used for the construction of an all-fiber temperature sensing system.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 8977-8986
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01673D
Significant enhancement of the photon upconversion of a single fluorescent microsphere via annular near-field localization
Fluorescent microspheres exhibit unique emissions at the microscale and have been widely used as probes for immunoassays and advanced micro-sensors.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 7921-7926
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01063A
Thermally enhanced NIR up-conversion fluorescence multimode thermometry based on Y2Mo3O12:Nd3+,Yb3+
A multimode high sensitivity fluorescence thermometer combining fluorescence thermal enhancement and FL thermal extension in one NTE material Y2Mo3O12:Nd3+,Yb3+.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 7588-7595
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01352B
Excellent red upconversion luminescence in GdLaO3:Er3+/Yb3+/Sc3+ under 980 nm laser excitation
Er3+/Yb3+ are distributed in a double-layer structure, blocked by a single layer of Sc3+/La3+. Red UCL intensity of (Gd0.8Er0.1Yb0.1)(La0.9Sc0.1)O3 is comparable to β-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 6559-6567
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC01015A
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Ambient solid-state triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion in ureasil organic–inorganic hybrid hosts
Solid-state green-to-blue upconversion is shown in organic–inorganic hybrid ureasil hosts using the palladium(II) octaethylporphyrin and diphenylanthracene sensitizer/emitter pair, with emission retained for >70 days without deoxygenation.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 6310-6318
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC00562G
Quaternary CsPbX3 (X = Cl1−xBrx, Br1−xIx) alloy microplates synthesized by single-step chemical vapor deposition and their two-photon absorption (TPA) properties
Because of their well-defined light–matter interaction volume, high-quality single-crystalline nature, and precise bandgap tunability, all-inorganic cesium lead halide (CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I)) perovskite (IHP) microplates are of fundamental and technological interest today.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 2561-2570
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TC03166G
About this collection
The field of photon upconversion materials has been booming in recent years. There are several reasons why researchers explore these systems for potential applications in fields as diverse as solar energy conversion, photochemistry, and biomedicine.
The two main classes of materials are organic compounds undergoing triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion and inorganic upconverting (nano)materials based on rare earth elements. Both fields have much in common, but have rarely been connected. To overcome this separation of similar research fields, this special collection embraces the similarities and differences of the two upconversion fields.
This Journal of Materials Chemistry C themed collection is Guest Edited by Professor Eva Hemmer (0000-0002-9222-1219, University of Ottawa, Canada), Professor Nobuo Kimizuka (0000-0001-8527-151X, Kyushu University, Japan), Professor Łukasz Marciniak (0000-0001-7841-2142, Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland), Professor Lea Nienhaus (0000-0003-1412-412X, Florida State University, USA) and Professor Timothy Schmidt (0000-0001-6691-1438, University of New South Wales, Australia). We hope that this collection will give readers an overview of some of the most recent work concerning the materials chemistry of photon upconversion materials and will help to promote exciting research in the field.