Achieving spin-triplet exciton transfer between silicon and molecular acceptors for photon upconversion

Xia, Pan; Raulerson, Emily K.; Coleman, Devin; Gerke, Carter S.; Mangolini, Lorenzo; Tang, Ming Lee; Roberts, Sean T.

doi:10.1038/s41557-019-0385-8

Achieving spin-triplet exciton transfer between silicon and molecular acceptors for photon upconversion

Journal Article · Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Nature Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-019-0385-8· OSTI ID:1773889

^[1]; Raulerson, Emily K. ^[2]; Coleman, Devin ^[3]; Gerke, Carter S. ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[2]

Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States); UC Riverside
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States)

Inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals interfaced with spin-triplet exciton-accepting organic molecules have emerged as promising materials for converting incoherent long-wavelength light into the visible range. However, these materials to date have made exclusive use of nanocrystals containing toxic elements, precluding their use in biological or environmentally sensitive applications. In this paper, we address this challenge by chemically functionalizing non-toxic silicon nanocrystals with triplet-accepting anthracene ligands. Photoexciting these structures drives spin-triplet exciton transfer from silicon to anthracene through a single 15 ns Dexter energy transfer step with a nearly 50% yield. When paired with 9,10-diphenylanthracene emitters, these particles readily upconvert 488–640 nm photons to 425 nm violet light with efficiencies as high as 7 ± 0.9% and can be readily incorporated into aqueous micelles for biological use. Our demonstration of spin-triplet exciton transfer from silicon to molecular triplet acceptors can critically enable new technologies for solar energy conversion, quantum information and near-infrared driven photocatalysis.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); Research Corporation for Science Advancement; Robert A. Welch Foundation; US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018969

OSTI ID:: 1773889

Journal Information:: Nature Chemistry, Journal Name: Nature Chemistry Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 12; ISSN 1755-4330

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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