Iridium(iii)–surfactant complex immobilized in mesoporous silicavia templated synthesis: a new route to optical materials

Abstract

In this work we report the preparation of a new blue-emitting material based on the templated synthesis of mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using micellar solutions of the newly synthesized monocationic metallosurfactant complex bis[1-benzyl-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole](4,4′-diheptadecyl-2,2′-bipyridine)–iridium(III) chloride in hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB). Under ambient conditions, significant increases in excited state lifetime and quantum yield values (up to 45%), were obtained for the solid materials in comparison to the corresponding micellar solutions. Solid state ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopies were successfully employed for quantifying the luminophore content in terms of Ir–surfactant to CTAB and Ir–surfactant to silica ratios.