A tunable full-color lanthanide noncovalent polymer based on cucurbituril-mediated supramolecular dimerization
Hua-Jiang Yu1, Xiao-Lu Zhou1, Xianyin Dai1
1College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University Tianjin 300071 P. R. China yuliu@nankai.edu.cn ymzhang@nankai.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|August 3, 2022
Summary
Researchers created a novel europium-based polymer that emits tunable full-color light. This supramolecular polymer self-assembles, offering a new strategy for advanced luminescent materials and multicolor imaging applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing lanthanide multicolor luminescent materials with tunable properties is significant for various applications.
- Fabricating such materials via synergistic assembly-induced emission, rather than simple blending, remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a europium-based noncovalent polymer with tunable full-color emission.
- To demonstrate a strategy for constructing single lanthanide self-assembled nanoconstructs.
Main Methods:
- A bifunctional component, 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid-bearing bromophenylpyridinium salt, was designed.
- This component acted as a guest molecule and chelating ligand for cucurbit[8]uril and europium ions.
- Formation of a trichromatic (red-green-blue) photoluminescent polypseudorotaxane-type noncovalent polymer in aqueous solution.
Main Results:
- Tunable full-color emission within the RGB color triangle was achieved by adjusting the molar ratio of cucurbit[8]uril and europium ions.
- The resulting lanthanide supramolecular polymer exhibited tricolor emission, long lifetime, and high photoluminescence efficiency.
- Low cytotoxicity was observed, indicating potential for biological applications.
Conclusions:
- A new and feasible strategy for constructing full-color single lanthanide self-assembled nanoconstructs was developed.
- The supramolecular polymer shows promise for multicolor imaging in cellular environments.
- This work addresses the challenge of synergistic assembly-induced emission in lanthanide materials.
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