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Hydrogen bonding triggered tunable high temperature phosphorescence
Sheng-Qi Qiu1, Jun-Ran Chen1, Yao Xiao1
1College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518071 China zqyu@szu.edu.cn czzhu@szu.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|August 15, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel strategy using hydrogen bonding (HB) to create color-tunable, high-temperature phosphorescent materials. These materials exhibit robust room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) up to 463 K, overcoming luminescence quenching challenges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Photophysics
Background:
- High-temperature phosphorescent (HTP) materials are challenging to develop due to luminescence quenching at elevated temperatures.
- Tunable emission in HTP materials is crucial for advanced optoelectronic applications.
- Existing organic phosphors often suffer from thermal instability, limiting their operational temperature range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a hydrogen bonding (HB) triggered strategy for achieving color-tunable and thermally robust room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP).
- To investigate the effect of varying acid strength on emission wavelength tuning.
- To establish a versatile method for designing HTP materials with enhanced thermal stability and tunable emission.
Main Methods:
- A triazine derivative (TRZ) was used as a luminescent core and HB acceptor.
- A series of acids (o-pyridinesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid) were employed as HB donors.
- The TRZ and ethanesulfonic acid system was doped into a PMMA matrix to study aggregation and exciton stabilization.
Main Results:
- Stable HB luminescent systems were constructed, exhibiting RTP activity.
- Continuous wavelength tuning from 528 to 585 nm was achieved by varying acid strength.
- Phosphorescence persisted up to 463 K, demonstrating exceptional thermal stability for tunable organic phosphors.
- Doping into PMMA promoted aggregation, stabilized triplet excitons, and led to photoactivated RTP and a photothermal effect.
- HB was found to enhance spin-orbit coupling, promote charge-transfer character, and restrict molecular motion, effectively suppressing thermal quenching.
Conclusions:
- The HB-triggered strategy provides a versatile approach for designing tunable HTP materials.
- The developed materials exhibit remarkable thermal robustness and tunable emission, suitable for high-temperature applications.
- This work broadens the scope for developing advanced organic phosphors for optoelectronics and sensing at elevated temperatures.
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