Bright and Photostable TADF-Emitting Zirconium(IV) Pyridinedipyrrolide Complexes: Efficient Dyes for Decay Time-Based Temperature Sensing and Imaging

Andreas Russegger, Angela C. Debruyne, Daniel Carvajal Berrio, Stefanie Fuchs, Julia Marzi, Katja Schenke-Layland, Ruslan I. Dmitriev, Sergey Borisov*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Luminescence thermometry represents a technique of choice for measurements in small objects and imaging of temperature distribution. However, most state-of-the-art luminescent probes are limited in spectral characteristics, brightness, photostability, and sensitivity. Molecular thermometers of the new generation utilizing air and moisture-stable zirconium(IV) pyridinedipyrrolide complexes can address all these limitations. The dyes emit pure thermally activated delayed fluorescence without any prompt fluorescence and show a unique combination of attractive features: a) visible light excitation and emission in the orange/red region, b) high luminescence brightness (quantum yields ≈0.5 in toluene and 0.8–1.0 in polystyrene matrix), c) excellent photostability, d) suitability for two-photon excitation and e) mono-exponential decay on the order of tens to hundreds of microseconds with strongly temperature-dependent lifetimes (between −2.5 and −2.9% K−1 in polystyrene at 25 °C). Immobilization in gas-blocking polymers yields sensing materials for self-referenced decay time read-out that are manufactured in two common formats: planar optodes and water-dispersible nanoparticles. Positively charged nanoparticles are demonstrated to be suitable for nanothermometry in live cells and multicellular spheroids. Negatively charged nanoparticles represent advanced analytical tools for imaging temperature gradients in samples of small volumes such as microfluidic devices.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2202720
JournalAdvanced Optical Materials
Volume11
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 May 2023

Keywords

  • imaging
  • microfluidics
  • nanoparticles
  • nanothermometry
  • optical sensors
  • phosphorescence lifetime imaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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