Visible-to-UV Photon Upconversion in Nanostructured Chromophoric Ionic Liquids

Visible-to-ultraviolet (vis-to-UV) triplet-triplet annihilation based photon upconversion (TTA-UC) is achieved in a non-volatile chromophoric ionic liquid (IL) for the first time. A novel IL is synthesized by combining UV-emitting anion 4-(2-phenyloxazol-5-yl)benzenesulfonate (PPOS) and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium cation (P-66614). The nanostructured organization of chromophoric anions is demonstrated by synchrotron X-ray and optical measurements. When the IL is doped with a triplet sensitizer tris(2-phenylpyridinato)iridium(III) (Ir(ppy)(3)), the visible-to-UV TTA-UC with a relatively low threshold excitation intensity of 61 mW cm(-2) is achieved. This is due to a large triplet diffusion coefficient in the IL (1.4x10(-7) cm(2) s(-1)) as well as a high absorption coefficient 15 cm(-1) and a long PPOS triplet lifetime of 1.55 ms, all implemented in the condensed IL system. This work demonstrates the unique potential of ILs to control chromophore arrangements for desired functions.