Nature-Inspired Organic-Inorganic Hybridization Enables High-Temperature and Multicolor Organic Phosphorescence

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) is crucial for applications but limited by poor thermal stability.
• Existing organic RTP materials often degrade or lose luminescence at elevated temperatures.
• Natural minerals with persistent afterglow inspire strategies for enhanced thermal resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop thermally robust organic RTP materials using an organic-inorganic hybridization strategy.
• To create artificial minerals with tunable and persistent organic phosphorescence.
• To explore the potential of these materials in sensing and medical applications.

Main Methods:

• Molecular embedding of carboxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into hydroxyapatite (HAP) lattices.
• Utilizing an in situ co-precipitation method for creating organic-inorganic composites.
• Incorporating specific organic chromophores like carboxylated triphenylamine (TPA-3COOH) into the HAP structure.

Main Results:

• Achieved strong and tunable RTP with quantum yields up to 31.1% and afterglow exceeding 10 seconds.
• Demonstrated stable organic phosphorescence at 500 K using TPA-3COOH/HAP composites.
• Identified HAP lattice's role in suppressing non-radiative decay and promoting triplet exciton generation via charge-transfer states and energy traps.

Conclusions:

• The organic-inorganic hybridization strategy provides a general platform for creating thermally stable, tunable organic RTP materials.
• The HAP lattice enhances RTP properties by controlling excited state dynamics.
• Developed solution-processable RTP materials for potential use in UV-responsive sensing and medical treatments.