Constructing highly fluorescent temperature-sensitive materials in polymer dots/water-processable polymeric matrixes composite systems

Abstract

Fluorescent temperature sensing (FTS) is an important optical property for fluorescent conjugated polymer (FCPs) based composites. Most FCPs-FTS composite films are processed using an organic phase. And the severe aggregation effects of FCPs in the solid state can lead to a significant reduction in fluorescence emission, which results in a substantial decrease in FTS sensitivity. To address the bottleneck issues, a new synergistic molecular mechanism based on hydrogen bonding and aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgen) motion in the polymer dots (Pdots)/water-processable substrates composite system has been implemented to enhance the sensitivity of FTS composite films. The distyreneanthracene (DSA) groups, as a typical AIEgen, have been introduced into the main chain of FCPs. These are co-assembled with polystyrene-b-poly (acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) to obtain Pdots in aqueous processing systems. After aqueous processing, waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can interact with Pdots, resulting in FTS composites with high sensitivity. The new synthetic strategy for preparing FTS composites is promising and deserves to be promoted for applications in optical sensing.