A major challenge in luminescent materials is inefficient energy utilization, where a substantial fraction of absorbed energy is dissipated through non-radiative pathways. This limitation can be addressed at the molecular level by rational design of emissive systems. Combining suitable chromophores and/or supporting frameworks allows control over crystal packing, spin-orbit coupling and heavy-atom effects, as well as intermolecular energy transfer, thereby minimizing energy losses and enhancing emission efficiency of phosphorescence. In this context, we present structural and photoluminescence properties of a new hybrid organic-inorganic composite salt 1,4-nap(PMePh2)2Pt(CN)2(Me-phpy)I·2MeCN (1) that integrates two previously recognized chromophores: the bisphosphonium-iodide fragment featuring anion-π interactions and the cycloplatinated anion. Photophysical analysis supported by TD-DFT calculations shows that the emission originates from the triplet charge transfer (CT) excited state 3(iodide → π*) (T1) localized within an anion-π ion pair. Composite 1 exhibits a room temperature phosphorescence quantum yield of 0.19, featuring nearly twofold enhancement compared to the precursor bisphosphonium iodide salt. This is attributed to the synergy of suppressed non-radiative decays and enhanced population of the emissive T1 state via triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) from its platinum counterpart. These results were achieved owing to the grafting of the bisphosphonium-I- supramolecular anion-π adduct into 1, demonstrating a strategic approach towards improved photoluminescence in molecular materials.
Glosz et al. (Thu,) studied this question.