Organic Molecules in Zeolites for Long-Lifetime Afterglow

Organic afterglow materials based on host-guest assembly have recently attracted extensive attention for their promising applications in photobiology and optoelectronics, as well as their simple and versatile preparation. However, the poor stability of the host matrix limits their actual applications. In this study, a new class of long afterglow materials with AlPO₄-5 zeolite as the host matrix and various aromatic acids (terephthalic acid, 2-naphthoic acid, and 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid) as guest molecules has been developed. The prepared composites exhibit tunable afterglow emissions across the visible spectrum from blue to green to red, with lifetimes of 919, 1540, and 74 ms and intensities approximately 42, 579, and 29 times higher than those of the corresponding pure organic molecular solid powders. Studies reveal that the efficient afterglow emission primarily stems from the effective dispersion and strong adsorption of organic molecules by the zeolite matrix, as well as the host-guest coordination interactions. Remarkably, the zeolite matrix endows the composites with excellent stability against radiation, solvents, acids, alkalis, and heat, together with potential for multimodal applications. Such a combination of properties is challenging to achieve with other matrix materials. This work establishes a novel strategy for developing long afterglow materials that integrate efficient emission, robustness, and multifunctionality.