Illuminating Hidden Processes in Emissive Lanthanoid Complexes (2017-2021)

Despite their use in modern high-tech applications, ranging from optical fibre amplifiers (telecommunications) to luminescent probes and sensors (biological imaging), current understanding of the antenna effect used to sensitise lanthanoid luminescence is largely based on speculation or generalised 'rules-of-thumb', severely limiting progress in the field. In this project, far more specific and detailed knowledge of these processes will be unraveled, using a combination of chemical synthesis, theory, and state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. This will allow new emissive lanthanoid based compounds to be developed using truly 'a priori' approaches, with performance that will surpass current gold standards and references.