Chromophores in nanochannels for energy transfer and conversion

Host–guest organic systems obtained by the inclusion of thiophene and phenylene based molecules in perhydrotriphenylene (PHTP) display efficient resonant energy transfers (RET) from short wavelength to longer wavelength emitters. The quantum efficiency of the longer wavelength emitter is lowered of about 20% when donor–acceptor transfer steps are required. A co-inclusion compound (IC) obtained with three molecules shows an efficient conversion of the near ultra violet (250–400nm) energy into visible (400–600nm) light with a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of 45–60%. A proper design of host–guest materials exploiting energy transfer processes can provide interesting artificial nanostructures for optoelectronic applications.