Iridium(iii)–surfactant complex immobilized in mesoporous silica via templated synthesis: a new route to optical materials

In this work we report the preparation of a new blue-emitting material based on the templated synthesis of mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using micellar solutions of the newly synthesized monocationic metallosurfactant complex bis[1-benzyl-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole](4,4[prime or minute]-diheptadecyl-2,2[prime or minute]-bipyridine)-iridium(iii) chloride in hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB). Under ambient conditions, significant increases in excited state lifetime and quantum yield values (up to 45%), were obtained for the solid materials in comparison to the corresponding micellar solutions. Solid state 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopies were successfully employed for quantifying the luminophore content in terms of Ir-surfactant to CTAB and Ir-surfactant to silica ratios.