Abstract: Fluorescent organic dyes play important roles in several fields of research and technology, ranging from probes and labels for bio-imaging and diagnostics to absorbers and emitters in photovoltaics, OLEDs, and laser devices.
In the Laursen group, we focus on the design, synthesis, and photophysics of organic dyes and materials with the aim of obtaining new or improved emissive properties. Recent work on molecular dyes includes the development of bright long fluorescence lifetime dyad fluorophores for time-gated imaging,[1] and probes based on dynamic proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) quenching for detection of weak bases such as glutamate and phosphate.[2]
In molecular solids, fluorescence is most often quenched due to close contact and electronic coupling between the dyes.[3] Recently, we developed a method to prohibit this self-quenching by supramolecular ionic self-assembly of cationic dyes with an anion-binding and structure-directing macrocycle.[4] The method provides access to thin films, crystals, and nanoparticles of molecular dyes with highly predictable optical properties.[5] These ultra-bright “SMILES” materials have, e.g. enabled the development of new optical materials for lifetime imaging,[6] control of circular polarized emission,[7] and formation of exciton-polariton condensates.[8]