Abstract
Herein, for the first time, we report a series of cuprous-cysteamine (Cu-Cy-X, X = F, Cl, Br, and I)) sensitizers that possess tunable fluorescence from orange to yellow. The Cu-Cy-X can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) in the order of Cu-Cy-I > Cu-Cy-Br > Cu-Cy-Cl approximate to Cu-Cy-F under UV and microwave excitation. Further study revealed that Cu-Cy-X has stability in the order of Cu-Cy-I > Cu-Cy-Br > Cu-Cy-Cl approximate to Cu-Cy-F. In this work, a detailed synthesis technique, crystal structure, optical properties, and mechanism of the observed trend in O-1(2) generation, luminescence spectra, and anticancer effect are discussed in both theoretical and experimental points of view. These new materials will open a new door for photodynamic therapy and many other potential applications such as sensing, lighting, displays, labeling, and medical imaging. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.