Multicolour optical coding from a series of luminescent lanthanide complexes with a unique antenna.

The bis-tetrazolate-pyridine ligand H(2)pytz sensitises efficiently the visible and/or near-IR luminescence emission of ten lanthanide cations (Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). The Ln(III) complexes present sizeable quantum yields in both domains with a single excitation source. The wide range of possible colour combinations in water, organic solvents and the solid state makes the complexes very attractive for labelling and encoding.