Phototunable dual-emitting and water-resistant cellulose acetate-based fluorescent materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Cellulose acetate (CA) is a versatile biopolymer.
• Developing fluorescent materials with enhanced properties like water resistance and tunable emission is crucial for advanced applications.
• Aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) is a common issue in fluorophore-based materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a water-resistant CA-based fluorescent film with optically tunable dual-emitting properties.
• To investigate the structural and luminescent characteristics of the synthesized material.
• To evaluate the potential of this material for smart textiles.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of CA-based fluorescent film using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and CaAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ (NH2-CAO).
• Structural characterization using FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD, and XPS.
• Photoluminescence spectroscopy to analyze emission properties and chromatic transitions.

Main Results:

• Successful grafting of FITC and NH2-CAO onto CA molecular chains confirmed.
• CA matrix mitigated ACQ, enabling green (535 nm) and blue (485 nm) fluorescence emission.
• The dual-emitting film exhibited chromatic transition and a long afterglow effect with increased NH2-CAO content.
• The developed films demonstrated excellent water resistance and thermal stability.

Conclusions:

• A novel water-resistant, dual-emitting fluorescent film based on cellulose acetate was successfully developed.
• The material offers tunable optical properties, prolonged luminescence, and superior water resistance compared to existing cellulose-based films.
• This work presents a promising strategy for creating biomass-derived smart textiles with advanced functionalities.