Department

North Carolina A&T State University Dept. of Chemistry 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC, 27411

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Abstract

Photon upconversion is a process in which two or more low-energy photons are absorbed and converted into a single higher-energy photon, enabling the use of sub-bandgap light for advanced photonic applications. In this study, we synthesized the porphyrin complex [5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrinato]-Pd (TCPP(Pd)) as a potential donor for triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion systems. The formation of TCPP(Pd) was confirmed through detailed spectroscopic characterization using NMR, FTIR, and UV–Vis techniques. To identify a suitable acceptor molecule, the absorption and emission spectra of the donor and several candidate acceptors were systematically analyzed to evaluate spectral overlap and photophysical compatibility. Additionally, the optimal concentrations of donor and acceptor required to achieve efficient photon upconversion were determined. Looking ahead, nanogap plasmonic cavities—comprising silver nanocubes separated from a flat silver mirror by a thin polymer layer—are proposed as a future platform to further enhance performance. Such cavities can significantly increase TTA upconversion emission brightness, lower the excitation threshold, and broaden the usable spectral range, enabling access to a larger anti-Stokes shift. These findings establish TCPP(Pd) as a promising donor system and outline pathways for improving upconversion efficiency in advanced photonic devices.

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