White light generation using Förster resonance energy transfer between 3-hydroxyisoquinoline and Nile Red

Simple composite films consisting of a polymer blended with organic emitters have the potential for broad-band "white" light emission that can be used for general lighting applications. In the present work, a simple mixture of 3-hydroxyisoquinoline (HIQ) with Nile Red (NR) in a polymeric matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is used to generate white light through a non-radiative excitation energy transfer (NREET) mechanism. NREET between HIQ and NR doped in PVA films is investigated using a combination of steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic methods. It is observed that NR has very weak fluorescence in the PVA film upon excitation at 400 nm, but upon mixing NR with HIQ, sensitized emission of NR is observed with decreased emission of HIQ. The behavior of the sensitized emission of NR is consistent with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the donor HIQ and acceptor NR. By adjusting the relative fractions of HIQ and NR in the films, the extent of FRET could be regulated and the overall film emission color could be manipulated to enable overall "white" (CIE color coordinates 0.34, 0.38) emission. The films showed excellent photostability with 405 nm diode illumination, along with mechanical flexibility, suggesting good potential utility as a down converting element for lighting applications.