Harmonizing High Phosphorescence Efficiency and Stretchability in Flexible Afterglow Materials Through Microphase...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• Organic ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (OURTP) materials are crucial for flexible optoelectronics.
• A key challenge is balancing phosphorescence efficiency with mechanical flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel block copolymer system that reconciles phosphorescence efficiency and mechanical flexibility.
• To create multifunctional polymers for wearable electronics.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of coronene into a poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS) block copolymer.
• Utilizing rigid polystyrene (PS) segments for phosphorescence and polyisoprene (PI) segments for elasticity.
• Employing microphase engineering to control morphology.

Main Results:

• Achieved high phosphorescence efficiency (Φ = 54.9%, τ = 6.26 s) due to immobilized phosphors and charge-transfer mediation.
• Demonstrated ultra-stretchability (2380.5% strain) and fatigue resistance (600% strain over 40 cycles).
• Maintained morphological homogeneity, preventing phase separation.

Conclusions:

• Successfully reconciled the conflict between luminescence and flexibility in polymer materials.
• Provided a general design strategy for multifunctional polymers.
• Enabled development of wearable electronics with both deformability and phosphorescent capability.