Exciplex formation and energy transfer in a self-assembled metal-organic hybrid system

Chemistry. 2012 May 7;18(19):5848-52. doi: 10.1002/chem.201103827. Epub 2012 Apr 19.

Abstract

Exciting assemblies: A metal-organic self-assembly of pyrenebutyric acid (PBA), 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen), and Mg(II) shows solid-state fluorescence originating from a 1:1 PBA-o-phen exciplex. This exciplex fluorescence is sensitized by another residual PBA chromophore through an excited-state energy-transfer process. The solvent polarity modulates the self-assembly and the corresponding exciplex as well as the energy transfer, resulting in tunable emission of the hybrid (see figure).