Luminescent Ni(0) complexes

With its 3d10 valence electron configuration Ni(0) is isoelectronic with Cu(I). While many Cu(I) complexes emitting from metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states have been explored, the number of luminescent Ni(0) complexes known to date is very limited. Ni(0) is typically stabilized by carbonyls, phosphines or isocyanides due to the π-acceptor properties of these ligands, and photoluminescence has been reported in a few selected cases that are reviewed herein. Recent studies indicate that chelating isocyanide ligands are promising for obtaining Ni(0) complexes with long-lived 3MLCT states, and this could be interesting for a similar range of applications as with photoactive Cu(I) complexes, including for example luminescent devices, solar cells, and organic photoredox reactions.