Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Dye-Sensitized Down-Conversion Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared Luminescence Enhancement

Dye-sensitized down-conversion nanoparticles (DCNPs) can significantly enhance photon absorption, bridging the gap of narrow and weak absorption cross-section of lanthanide (Ln) ions, thus fundamentally prompting their near-infrared (NIR) emission. However, the ideal strategy for utilization of both the singlet and triplet energy of the dyes is hindered by the nanostructures and the dependence on the heavy atom effect. Herein, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) dye is utilized with a small singlet-triplet energy gap as the absorption antenna, achieving a 733 fold emission enhancement. This strategy facilitates efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) and reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) processes, enabling effective energy transfer from singlet (S₁) and triplet (T₁) excitons to emitted energy levels of Er³⁺. Combining highly Erbium-doped nanoparticles, the water-dispersed AD-sensitized system shows excellent hydrodynamic stability and photostability. This innovative approach marks the first report of TADF dye-sensitized Ln nanosystems, offering a new direction for photo conversion technology.