journal article·2025-09Open access

Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Photon Upconversion Toward UVC Energy Generation Using TIPS‐Benzene and a Heptazine Derivative

Masanori Uji, Sakura Nakagawa, Atsuko Nihonyanagi, Daigo Miyajima, Naoya Aizawa, Nobuhiro Yanai

Advanced Optical Materials· Volume 13· Issue 25

Abstract

Abstract UV energy generation via triplet‐triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC) plays a pivotal role in enabling high‐energy photochemical reactions. However, generating UVB/UVC energy through TTA‐UC remains a significant challenge. In this work, the TTA‐UC from visible/UVA to UVB/UVC is demonstrated by combining (triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl benzene (TIPS‐benzene)‐based emitters with an organic sensitizer, a heptazine derivative. The heptazine derivative exhibits absorption in the visible/UVA region and has a triplet energy level high enough to sensitize the TIPS‐benzene‐based emitters. The introduction of bulky substituents into TIPS‐benzene suppresses the deactivation pathways of the excited triplet state that compete with TTA, thereby enhancing the TTA‐UC efficiency. This study demonstrates the direction of molecular design for the challenging generation of UVB/UVC energy.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials · Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research · Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry Graduate School of Science The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan

Department of Applied Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering Kyushu University 744 Moto‐oka Nishi‐ku Fukuoka 819‐0395 Japan

RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) 2‐1 Hirosawa Wako Saitama 351‐0198 Japan

School of Science and Engineering the Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen 518172 P. R. China

Division of Applied Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University 2‐1 Yamadaoka Suita Osaka 565‐0871 Japan

Center for Future Innovation Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University 2‐1 Yamadaoka Suita Osaka 565‐0871 Japan

Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI‐ICReDD) Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido 001‐0021 Japan

Funding

Japan Science and Technology Corporation

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