Octahedral transition metal cluster complexes are known for their abilities to generate singlet oxygen and to emit in the red-NIR range with high photoluminescence quantum yields. These properties make them promising candidates for example as oxygen sensors, for photocatalysis or cancer treatment. However, their poor solubility in aqueous media and low cellular uptake combined with high required excitation energies in the UV range, are persistent limits to their biological applicability.

This project aims to encapsulate these clusters with phospholipids into a micellular matrix which results in biocompatible and water-soluble clusters usable in biological systems. Sensitizers like inorganic quantum dots based on CdSe, PbS or CsPbBr3 will be incorporated into the micelles to extend the cluster excitation wavelength to the red-NIR by means of energy transfer from the quantum dot to the cluster.
The photophysical properties and energy transfer dynamics will be elucidated with time-resolve femtosecond and nanosecond pump/probe spectroscopy.