Phosphine-Capped Effects Enable Full-Color Clusteroluminescence in Nonconjugated Polyesters

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Photophysics

Background:

• Developing color-tunable luminophores from nonconjugated polymers is challenging.
• Through-space interactions are key for achieving clusteroluminescence (CL).

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer color-tunable clusteroluminogens from nonconjugated polymers.
• To explore the mechanism of CL in phosphine-capped polyesters.

Main Methods:

• Phosphine-initiated copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides.
• Spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations.
• Investigation of polymer dynamics and CL properties.

Main Results:

• Developed phosphine-capped nonconjugated polyesters with blue-to-red CL (400-700 nm).
• Achieved high quantum yield (32%) for red CL (610 nm) with P1-0.5TPP.
• Disclosed through-space (n,π*) interactions inducing phosphine-ester clusters and conformational changes.
• Demonstrated tunability of CL color and efficiency via phosphine type, polymer composition, and concentration.
• Revealed the role of polymer motions (group, segmental, chain) in CL.

Conclusions:

• Phosphine end-group engineering provides a strategy for full-color clusteroluminogens.
• These polymers function as nonconjugated dyes and fluorescent fibers.
• Applications include multicolor and white light-emitting diodes.