Design and optical waveguide behavior of full-color emitting materials with adjustable band gap

Abstract

Optical waveguide materials that span the entire visible spectrum is paramount for the efficacious operation of photon transmission devices in many contexts. Notably intriguing is the use of manipulating the band gap to finely modulate chromatic diversity within the luminous material. In this context, we synthesized three distinct organic small molecules, employing carbazole's inherent proclivity as the electron donor, while engaging thiophene, pyrimidine, and fluorenone as adept electron acceptor moieties. Evidently, our investigation unveiled a remarkable metamorphosis in the emitted fluorescence, wherein the chromatic spectrum transitions from blue to green, and subsequently to orange, as the electron acceptor group's capacity for electron absorption diminishes. Interestingly, the three materials manifest an inherent propensity for facile preparation into one-dimensional nanostructures, characterized by smooth surfaces, concurrently exhibiting commendable performance as optical waveguides. Our findings deepen a comprehensive understanding of the design of materials with the full visible spectrum, which might lead to innovations in the design of photonic integrated structures.