Herein, we prepared a dual-emitting
cellulose film with pH response,
which offers high transparency, good flexibility, and intense thermal
stability. The color of the fluorescent film that changes from green
to blue-green to cyan was achieved by covalently attaching organic
dye fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), inorganic pigment NH2-CaAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ (NH2-CAO), and organic–inorganic fluorescence species onto
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HMPC) chains, respectively. Benefiting
from the “anchoring” and “dilution” effects
of the HMPC skeleton, HPMC-FITC and HPMC@NH2-CAO fluorescent
solutions and solid-state films emit green and blue-green fluorescence
at 535 and 480 nm, respectively. The obtained pH-responsive cellulose-based
dual-emitting film can continuously emit cyan light at the two emission
peaks of 480 and 535 nm for a long time and exhibits strong fluorescence
intensity under exceedingly alkaline conditions. Moreover, the HPMC-based
fluorescent solution coated on glass and fabric substrate shows strong
fluorescence under 365 nm UV light stimulation. Compared with the
existing cellulose-based fluorescent films, this work expands the
emission wavelength range of cellulose-based fluorescent films and
prolongs the luminescent time of environment-responsive fluorescent
films. This provides a new way to prepare intelligent color-changing
fabric-coating materials and sensitive pH sensors based on biomass.