High-performance fluorescent particles prepared via miniemulsion polymerization

Abstract

Highly fluorescent polymer particles were prepared with Eu β-diketonates complex as a fluorophore by miniemulsion polymerization technique. Eu β-diketonates complex has a long decay time, a large Stokes shift, and very narrow emission bands in comparison with other organic fluorescent compounds. Aqueous miniemulsion was prepared by mixing monomer, crosslinker, hydrophobe, and Eu β-diketonates complex and then putting the mixture into an aqueous solution of surfactant, followed by ultrasonication. An aqueous solution of initiator was added to the miniemulsion to obtain fluorescent polymer particles, which were monodispersed without aggregation. Particle size was decreased to deca-nano scale by increasing the amount of surfactant. Fluorescent intensity was increased by using Eu β-complex coordinated with additional ligand. Further fluorescence quantum yields and fluorescent properties in the presence of DNA were investigated to the confirm superiority of Eu β-diketonates complexes in polymer particles.