A molecular thermometer based on luminescence of copper(II) tetraphenylporphyrin

The photoluminescence (PL) spectra from solid samples consisting of polystyrene and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine copper(II) (CuTPP) revealed two sharp peaks at 653 and 720 nm. and indicated another broad peak at around 780 nm, which could not be observed in CuTPP solutions. The intensity ratio of the two peaks appearing at 653 nm and at around 780 nm demonstrated clear dependence on temperature. This dependence of the PL intensity ratio was observed under the atmosphere and even in water. The findings mean that we were able to utilize PL from CuTPP as a thermometer under various conditions. We measured the temperatures of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) during operation based on its electroluminescence, where the OLED contained CuTPP as a light-emitting dopant, to demonstrate the CuTPP thermometer. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.