The Design of Ruthenium and Iridium Triplet Photosensitisers

Abstract

This thesis describes compounds designed to harness the energies of photon-induced transitions between electronic energy levels. Applications that involve such transitions include but are not limited to photodynamic therapy, bioimaging and photocatalysis. Further work around triplet photosensitiser behaviour and design then leads to a discussion on how to influence the properties of these compounds by modifying their structure. A wide range of analytical techniques were used to probe the properties of the prepared compounds, including UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, emission under both air and argon atmospheres, low temperature emission studies, quantum yields of luminescence and emission lifetimes.