Enabling nonconjugated polyesters emit full-spectrum fluorescence from blue to near-infrared

Abstract

Near-infrared luminophores have many advantages in advanced applications, especially for structures without π-conjugation aromatic rings. However, the fabrication of red clusteroluminogens from nonconjugated polymers is still a big challenge, let alone the near-infrared clusteroluminogens. Here, we develop nonconjugated luminophores with full-spectrum from blue to near-infrared light (470 ~ 780 nm), based on color phenomenon of nonconjugated polyesters synthesized from the amine-initiated copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. We reveal that amines act as initiators attached to polymer chain ends. The formation of various amine-ester complexes in polyesters induces red to near-infrared light, conceptually, amine-ester complexed clusteroluminescence via intra/inter-chain charge transfer. Significantly, emission colors can be easily tuned by the contents and types of amines, microstructures of polyesters, and their concentration. This work provides a low-cost, scalable platform and strategy for the production of high-efficiency, multicolor luminescent materials.

Recent Advances in Fluorescent Polymers with Color-Tunable Aggregate Emission

“…Very recently, Zhang and colleagues developed a series of nonconjugated polyesters from amine-initiated copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. 158 The formation of various amine−ester complexes in polyesters was considered to induce red to near-infrared light with an emission wavelength of 470−780 nm (Figure 10B). This is due to the amine−estercomplexed clusteroluminescence via intra-or interchain charge transfer.…”

“…(B) Nonconjugated polyesters with amine–ester complexes that are responsible for clusteroluminescence with emission wavelength red-shifts. Reproduced from ref with permission under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. Copyright 2024 Springer Nature.…”

Regulation of Photophysical Behaviors in Hyperbranched Aggregation-Induced Emission Polymers for Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging

“…Nevertheless, these methods suffer from unstable electron transfer and potential π stacking in the physiological environment. Recently, Zhang et al designed a series of polyesters with tunable emissions by regulating hierarchical structure or intra/interchain charge transfer, and achieved white-to-near-infrared fluorescence. ,− They pointed out that the balanced flexibility and rigidity are crucial to improve the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency, and through-space interactions (TSIs) could induce long-wavelength PL by changing secondary structures. As a main branch of CL materials, hyperbranched polymers play critical roles due to their unique physicochemical and PL properties. − Unfortunately, regulating the hierarchical structures of these hyperbranched polymers is difficult due to the abundant anisotropic terminals and uncontrollable terminal interactions.…”

“…To solve this problem, several methods have been developed to fabricate CL materials with long-wavelength emissions, for example, hydrothermal treatment, , establishing donor (D)-acceptor (A) structures and bringing in π-conjugated structures. , The Stokes shifts of organic fluorescent materials are usually about 100 nm, and hydrothermal treatment could enhance the Stokes shift to 252 nm . However, hydrothermal treatment is usually accompanied by the generation of carbon cores as new emissive centers, which possess more complex structures and make the mechanism understanding more difficult.…”

Significant Effect of Guest Ions on the Fluorescence Behaviors of Palmatine-Based Supramolecular Systems

“…Such luminescent materials with tunable emitting light colors play an indispensable role in the remarkable advancement of modern civilization, such as being used in anticounterfeiting and data encryption purposes. In addition, these molecular dyes with optical and biological properties have a bright potential to become multifunctional dyes for developing smart and functional textiles. − …”