Improved triplet state parameters for indium octacarboxy phthalocyanines when conjugated to quantum dots and magnetite nanoparticles

•Magnetic nanoparticles and CdSe@ZnS quantum dots were separately coordinated to indium octacarboxy phthalocyanine.•There was a decrease in the fluorescence lifetimes of the phthalocyanine in the conjugate.•The triplet quantum yields increased in the conjugates compared to phthalocyanine alone.

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and glutathione (GSH) capped CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were separately coordinated to indium octacarboxy phthalocyanine (InPc(COOH)8) to form ClInPc(COOH)8–MNPs and ClInPc(COOH)8–GSH–CdSe@ZnS, respectively. The photophysical parameters (triplet state and fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes) were determined for the conjugates. The triplet quantum yields increased from ΦT = 0.49 for InPc(COOH)8 alone to ΦT = 0.61 and 0.56 for InPc(COOH)8 in the conjugates: ClInPc(COOH)8–MNPs and ClInPc(COOH)8–GSH–CdSe@ZnS, respectively. The lifetimes also became longer for the conjugates compared to Pc alone.

Graphical abstractFe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and glutathione (GSH) capped CdSe@ZnS quantum dots were separately coordinated to indium octacarboxy phthalocyanine resulting in increased triplet quantum yields of the latter.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide