TIPS-NPh is a triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) ultraviolet emitter featuring high fluorescence quantum yield and high singlet generation efficiency. Known as 1,4-DTNA, TIPS-NPh has a low enough triplet energy level to be sensitized by Ir(C6)2(acac), a superior donor that does not quench UV emission. The combination of TIPS-NPh and Ir(C6)2(acac) realizes efficient UV light production even with weak light sources such as an AM 1.5 solar simulator and indoor LEDs. A visible-to-UV TTA-UC efficiency of over 20% based on TIPS-Nph and Ir(C6)2(acac) is achieved under pulsed excitation at 445 nm. Together with TIPS-NPh, CBDAC—a metal-free ketocoumarin derivative donor which exhibits strong visible absorption, weak UV absorption, and high ISC efficiency—also demonstrates visible-to-UV TTA-UC efficiency of 20.3% under the laser excitation at 445 nm.
TIPS-NPh can also pair with metal-free multiple resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) materials to gain the visible-to-ultraviolet upconversion effect. A high upconversion quantum efficiency of 12.5% is achieved by mixing BNCzBr and TIPS-NPh under laser excitation, owing to the internal heavy atom effect which leads to a significantly decreased PLQY and a remarkably increased intersystem crossing quantum yield.
Its isomer 1,5-DTNA is also available in high purity sublimed and unsublimed grade.