posted on 2023-12-27, 21:45authored byXinzhe Xiao, Shaokui Zhou, Lin Gu
The
intrinsic luminescent properties of waterborne polyurethane
(WPU) as an industrial-scale nonconjugated polymer and the role of
side groups in its intrinsic luminescence remain unclear and require
further exploration. In this work, a series of WPUs with different
side carboxyl contents were prepared, which exhibit clusterization-triggered
emission (CTE) characteristics. The carboxyl group of the side carboxyl
groups strengthened the hydrogen bond, electron overlap between lone
pairs and π electrons, and dipole–dipole and n–π* interactions, thereby enhancing the emission
intensity. Furthermore, leveraging the clusteroluminescence characteristics
of WPU, various applications have been developed, including explosive
and Fe3+ detection, damage tracing, and stretch fluorescence
change. This work not only enhances our understanding of the clusteroluminescence
mechanism but also provides an effective approach for designing and
operating nonconjugated fluorescent materials.