Neat Films Research Articles

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence carbazole‐triazine dendrimer with bulky substituents

AbstractCarbazole‐triazine dendrimers with a bulky terminal substituent were synthesized, and the thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) property was investigated. Compared to unsubstituted carbazole dendrimers, dendrimers with bulky terminal substituents showed comparable to better photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) in neat films. Phenylfluorene (PF)‐substituted dendrimers showed the highest PLQY of 81%, a small ΔEst of 0.06 eV, and the fastest reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate of ∼1 × 105 s−1 compared to other dendrimers. Phosphorescence measurements of dendrimers and dendrons (fragments) indicate that the close proximity of the triplet energy of phenylfluorene‐substituted carbazole dendrons (3LE) to that of phenylfluorene‐substituted dendrimers (1CT, 3CT) contributes to RISC promotion and improves TADF efficiency. Terminal modification fine‐tunes the energy level and suppresses intermolecular interactions, and this study provides a guideline for designing efficient solution‐processable and non‐doped TADF materials.

Conformational Locking Control of 2D Outer Side Chains via Fluorine Atom Positioning for Improving the Thermal Stability of Organic Solar Cells.

Alongside high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), device stability, especially thermal issues, is another key factor for the successful commercialization of nonfullerene acceptor (NFA)-based organic solar cells (OSCs). Considering the significant effects of the side-chain engineering of NFAs on molecular packing and/or locking strongly associated with the thermal stability of OSCs, herein, we present two new isomeric NFAs with 4-fluoro- and 2-fluoro-substituted hexylphenyl two-dimensional (2D) outer side chains (4FY and 2FY, respectively). In contrast with the 2FY having a horizontal stretching conformation, 4FY exhibits a diagonal stretching conformation of the 2D outer side chains and a higher dipole moment, resulting in a huge difference in their crystalline/aggregation characteristics, i.e., 4FY possesses a higher crystallinity with a denser molecular packing than the 2FY neat film, as evidenced by thermal and morphological characterizations. Encouragingly, relative to the one based on 2FY, the OSC based on 4FY delivers a PCE as high as 16.4%, together with excellent thermal stability (88.4% PCE retention under 85 °C for 360 h), which is attributed to a more optimal and robust blend morphology induced by its better compatibility into the used donor component and stronger crystallinity. This work demonstrates that in addition to the improved photovoltaic property, the appropriate F-positioning on the 2D outer side chains can play a key role in controlling their conformations, which can promote the increase of the thermal stability of OSCs.

Investigation of welding repair methods for thermoplastic composite joints

Repair is a common process to extend the service life of composite structures, and there is a need for techniques compatible with thermoplastic composites (TPCs). As the assembly of TPC joints through welding is gaining importance, evaluating their potential for repairability is essential. This work aims to develop novel techniques to repair welded TPC joints: 1) Successive repair (three cycles) of broken joints by ultrasonic-assisted method with neat and nanocomposite films, and 2) one-step repair using ultrasonic welding (USW) and resistance heating. It was found from tensile testing that multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypropylene (MWCNT/PP) films partially restored the lap shear strength (LSS), but pure PP films enabled significant recovery of the LSS as 94.5%, 89.4%, and 86.7% after the first, second, and third repair cycle, respectively. Nanocomposite films were however promising for monitoring the initiation and propagation of the damage occurring within the repaired joints, even after three repair cycles. Moreover, results from one-step repair using USW revealed that a stronger and more uniform repair interface was obtained, compared to resistance heating. Overall, the repair methods developed in this study exhibited promise for TPC joint repair, with strength recovery between 63.8% and 94.5%.

Dimethyl-dihydroindenocarbazole-anthracene-phenanthroimidazole based hybridized local and charge-transfer molecules as efficient nondoped deep-blue emitters for highly efficient fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes

The pursuit of hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) excited state-based emitters is a promising strategy to achieve high external quantum efficiency in blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Two isomeric dimethyl-dihydroindenocarbazole-anthracene-phenanthroimidazole-based emissive molecules (PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn) were designed and explored based on the HLCT scheme. All molecules possessed the HLCT excited-state characters, according to the photophysical investigation and density functional theory calculations. Consequently, PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn showed good blue emission with peaks at 457 and 464 nm and photoluminescence quantum yield of 80.6% and 56.5% in neat films, respectively. The fabricated blue OLEDs with PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn as emitters also realized the corresponding blue emission with electroluminescence peaks at 458 and 457 nm, respectively. The nondoped devices based on PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn exhibited maximum external quantum efficiencies of 8.2% and 8.5% with CIE coordinates of (0.14, 0.12) and (0.14, 0.11), respectively.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Composite Films with Enhanced Flame Retardancy and Gas Barrier Properties via Self-Assembly Nanocoating.

The flammability and gas barrier properties are essential for package material. Herein, a highly-oriented self-assembly nanocoating composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and montmorillonite (MMT) was prepared for endowing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films with excellent flame retardancy and gas barrier properties. The specific regular nanosheet structure of the PVA/MMT composite nanocoating was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the vertical burning test (VBT) suggested that the thermal stability and flame-retardancy of the coated PET films were considerably improved with more pick-up of the resulting nanocoating. When reaching 650 °C, there was still 22.6% char residual left for coated PET film, while only 6% char residual left for pristine PET film. During the vertical burning test, the flame did not spread through the whole PET film with the protection of PVA/MMT nanocoating, and no afterflame was observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is consistent with vertical burning test, proving that the thermal stability and flame retardancy of coated PET films were considerably enhanced with the increment of PVA/MMT. Thanks to the multi-layer structure, PVA/MMT nanocoating could effectively improve the gas barrier properties of PET films, and the oxygen vapor transmittance rate and water vapor transmittance rate of PET films were more than four hundred times lower and 30% lower than those of neat PET film. Our work demonstrates that bi-functional flame retardant and gas barrier materials could be gained via constructing inorganic/organic highly-oriented self-assembly nanocoating, which is promising in the area of packaging.

Rose Petal Mimetic Surfaces with Antibacterial Properties Produced Using Nanoimprint Lithography.

In this study, we produced bioinspired micro/nanotopography on the surface of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) films and demonstrated that these films display antibacterial properties. In the first step, structures that are found on the surface of a rose petal were copied on the surface of PVDF-HFP films. Following this, a hydrothermal method was used to grow ZnO nanostructures on top of this rose petal mimetic surface. The antibacterial behavior of the fabricated sample was demonstrated against Gram-positive Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) as model bacteria. For comparison purposes, the antibacterial behavior of a neat PVDF-HFP film was also investigated against both bacterial species. The results show that the presence of rose petal mimetic structures on PVDF-HFP helped the material to display improved antibacterial performance against both S. agalactiae and E. coli compared to the antibacterial performance of neat PVDF-HFP. The antibacterial performance was further enhanced for samples that had both rose petal mimetic topography and ZnO nanostructures on the surface.

Bis-cyanostilbene based fluorescent materials: A rational design of AIE active probe for hypochlorite sensing

In the present investigation cyanostilbene based molecular probes, PCS and PCO, bearing N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate and N,N-dimethylcarbamoyal groups, respectively, have been synthesised. These probes exhibit AIEE activity in their aggregated state in the mixed solvent system of THF: H2O by way of turning on their emission, which has also been observed in powder, neat thin films and hybrid polymer films. While the probe PCO is silent to ClO−, PCS exhibits a significant response towards ClO− rationalised on the basis of HOCl specific oxidation of thiocarbamate, which is also extended to detect ClO− in water samples. Additionally, applicability of the test strips of PCS for rapid on-site detection of ClO− has been demonstrated. The experimental results are supplemented by the theoretical calculations wherever possible.

P‐110: Donor‐Acceptor Type Bifunctional Molecules with Hybridized Local and Charge‐Transfer Excited State as Efficient Non‐Doped Deep‐Blue Emitters for Highly Efficient Fluorescent OLEDs

Herein, we synthesized two novel D–p–A fluorescent molecules namely PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn based on dimethyl‐ dihydroindenocarbazole–anthracene‐ phenanthroimidazole for non‐doped blue organic light‐emitting diodes. The excited‐state properties of the PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn investigated through photophysical experiments and density functional theory revealed the HLCT excited‐state characteristics. The neat films of PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn exhibited photoluminescence quantum yields of 80.6% and 56.5%, respectively. The non‐doped devices based on PhAnsIn and PhAnoIn exhibited corresponding blue emissions with electroluminescence peaks at 458 and 457 nm, a maximum EQE of 8.2% and 8.5% with CIE coordinates of (0.14,0.12) and (0.14,0.11), respectively.

A Non‐Halogenated Polymer Donor Based on Imide Unit for Organic Solar Cells with Efficiency Nearly 16%

Comprehensive SummaryNon‐halogenated polymers have great potential in the commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs) due to their advantages in the manufacturing process. However, high‐performance donor polymers are limited to a small amount of building blocks. Herein, we utilize as building block 4H‐dithieno[3,2‐e:2',3'‐g]isoindole‐4,6(5H)‐dione (DTID) to design and synthesize a relevant non‐halogenated polymer PBTID for active layers in OSCs. PBTID exhibits a strong absorption in the wavelength range of 400—600 nm with a distinctly wide optical bandgap of 2.06 eV, a low‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of −5.53 eV. In addition, this polymer has a very strong aggregation effect in solution and could form nanoscale fibrils in the neat film. Consequently, when blended with the non‐fullerene acceptor Y6, the devices achieve a prominent PCE of 15.8% with a high Voc of 0.87 V. The Voc and PCE values are one of the highest values in the non‐halogenated polymer donor‐based OSCs reported to date.

Efficient solution-processed OLEDs featuring deep-blue triplet-triplet annihilation emitter based on pyrene derivative

Achieving high efficiency deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with a CIEy < 0.08 is still terribly urgent yet challenge. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel blue triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) emitter with a fan-shape torsional molecular structure, namely TbuPyB, which is based on benzene as core and three tert-butylpyrene as arm. The photophysical, electrochemical and electroluminescent performances of TbuPyB were systematically investigated. Intense deep-blue/blue emissions peaked at 413 and 472 nm are observed in the 7 wt% doped 1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene (mCP) thin film and neat film, accompanied by absolute photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (PLQY) of 66.3% and 74.8%, respectively. Contributed by the TTA process, the solution-processed non-doped device exhibits blue emission peak at 470 nm with an impressive EQE of 10.65% and a CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.20) at the voltage of 7.8 V. In contrary, at the 7 wt% dopant concentration, an outstandingly 57 nm violet-shifted deep-blue emission at 413 nm with an EQE of 6.87% and a CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.06) was achieved in the doped device. These results schedule a novel avenue for designing highly efficient deep-blue emitter in the solution processable OLEDs.

Deep‐Red/Near‐Infrared Delayed Fluorescence Luminophores Based on Dipyrido[3,2‐a:2”,3”‐c]Phenazine‐11,12‐Dicarbonitrile for High‐Performance OLEDs

AbstractDeep‐red (DR) and near‐infrared (NIR) organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on purely organic materials hold great potential in various frontier applications, but purely organic DR/NIR materials are far from satisfactory. Herein, a series of tailor‐made delayed fluorescence luminophores comprised of electron‐withdrawing dipyrido[3,2‐a:2″,3″‐c]phenazine‐11,12‐dicarbonitrile and various electron‐donating triarylamines are developed, and their thermal and electrochemical stabilities, electronic structures, photophysical properties and electroluminescence (EL) performances are investigated. They exhibit strong NIR emissions (758−767 nm) in neat films and DR/NIR emissions (680−691 nm) with good photoluminescence quantum yields (48−60%) in doped films, and prefer ordered horizontal alignment with high horizontal dipole ratios of 82−90%, which are attributed to the hybrid transition components of excited states, extended molecular plane and intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding. Their non‐doped OLEDs emit purely NIR light peaking at 820−834 nm with maximum external quantum efficiencies (ηext,maxs) of 0.66−1.06%, and thier doped OLEDs radiate DR/NIR emissions peaking at 656−748 nm with superb ηext,maxs of 14.4–31.0%. They present even better EL performances in sensitized OLEDs, with DR emissions peaking at 648−656 nm and higher ηext,maxs of 29.7−32.9%. These state‐of‐the‐art EL performances demonstrate the great potential of the developed DR/NIR delayed fluorescence luminophores in practical application.

Cellulose nanofiber-based pH indicator integrated with resazurin-modified carbon dots for real-time monitoring of food freshness

Modified carbon dots with resazurin (R-CD) were prepared using a hydrothermal method to fabricate a CNF-based pH-responsive indicator for real-time food freshness monitoring. FE-SEM and FTIR results confirmed that the R-CD was uniformly distributed in the CNF matrix. The thermal stability of the CNF/R-CD indicator film was increased, and the water contact angle of the film was slightly lower than that of the neat CNF film. The CNF/R-CD film showed excellent UV-barrier properties, with ∼98.3% and 87.7% blocking the UV-B and UV-A light. The indicator film showed excellent color stability even after 2 months of storage at 25 °C and responded rapidly to alkaline pH and NH3 through a color change from yellow to brownish-red. The CNF/R-CD indicator films exhibited distinct color changes during shrimp packaging depending on pH and TVB-N concentration. Therefore, the CNF/R-CD indicator can be used as a promising pH-sensitive color-changing intelligent packaging application for freshness monitoring.

The influence of the capping ligands on the optoelectronic performance, morphology, and ion liberation of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots

Perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) endowed with capping ligands exhibit impressive optoelectronic properties and enable for cost-efficient solution processing and exciting application opportunities. We synthesize and characterize three different PeQDs with the same cubic CsPbBr3 core, but which are distinguished by the ligand composition and density. PeQD-1 features a binary didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and octanoic acid capping ligand system, with a high surface density of 1.53 nm−2, whereas PeQD-2 and PeQD-3 are coated by solely DDAB at a gradually lower surface density. We show that PeQD-1 endowed with highest ligand density features the highest dispersibility in toluene of 150 g/L, the highest photoluminescence quantum yield of 95% in dilute solution and 59% in a neat film, and the largest core-to-core spacing in neat thin films. We further establish that ions are released from the core of PeQD-1 when it is exposed to an electric field, although it comprises a dense coating of one capping ligand per four surface core atoms. We finally exploit these combined findings to the development of a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), where the active layer is composed solely of solution-processed pure PeQDs, without additional electrolytes. In this device, the ion release is utilized as an advantage for the electrochemical doping process and efficient emissive operation of the LEC.

Biodegradability of Starch Nanocomposite Films Containing Different Concentrations of Chitosan Nanoparticles in Compost and Planting Soils

Starch-based nanocomposite films containing chitosan nanoparticles (S/CNP films) are biodegradable and promising alternatives for non-biodegradable synthetic plastics. Nonetheless, limited work has been conducted to investigate the biodegradability of the films in soil. Thus, this work is aimed at investigating the biodegradation of starch-based films containing different concentrations of CNP (0, 10, 15, 20, 25% w/w solid starch) via a soil burial test using compost and planting soils. The biodegradability was investigated in terms of weight loss, visual appearance, morphology, and structural changes. It was found that S/CNP films biodegraded slower than neat starch films, and the degradation rate was reduced by 46 and 44% in compost and planting soils, respectively, with the increase in the concentrations of CNP from 10 to 25% w/w incorporated into the films. The degradation rate of films in compost soil after 8 days was found to be higher (0.0617 g/day) than in planting soil (0.0266 g/day). Visual appearance, morphology, and structural change results also supported these findings. The biodegradable S/CNP films can be used to reduce the usage of synthetic plastic.

Triazolotriazine-based mixed host for pure-red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes exhibiting ultra-low efficiency roll-off

The development of high-performance pure-red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (Ph-OLEDs) especially with low efficiency roll-off at high brightness is still an appealing yet challenging task. Despite success of well-documented 1,3,5-triazine (TRZ)-based thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) hosts in green Ph-OLEDs, the limited electron-withdrawing ability of the TRZ acceptor makes the TADF hosts unsuitable enough for usage in the assembly of high-performance red Ph-OLEDs. Herein, pure-red Ph-OLEDs with ultra-low efficiency roll-off at luminance above 10000 cd m−2 are achieved by developing two triazolotriazine-based TADF hosts (23aIC-TAZTRZ and 32aIC-TAZTRZ) with balanced bipolar transporting property, good morphological stability and high photoluminescence quantum yield in neat film. Particularly, the phosphor-doped 23aIC-TAZTRZ and 32aIC-TAZTRZ emitting layers display high horizontal orientation factors (Θ//) of 84% and 85%, respectively. Ph-OLEDs utilizing 50 wt% 23aIC-TAZTRZ and 50 wt% 32aIC-TAZTRZ as the mixed host exhibit pure-red emission with Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of [0.66, 0.34], high maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 27.4% and ultra-low efficiency roll-off at 10000 cd m−2 (EQE10000 = 23.9%). This work not only discloses the potential of triazolotriazine acceptor for the construction of efficient TADF hosts, but also provides alternative candidates to TRZ-based hosts for the assembly of high-performance red Ph-OLEDs.

Tuning Photophysical Properties via Positional Isomerization of the Pyridine Ring in Donor–Acceptor-Structured Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens Based on Phenylmethylene Pyridineacetonitrile Derivatives

A series of aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-featured phenylmethylene pyridineacetonitrile derivatives named o-DBCNPy ((Z)-3-(4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)acrylonitrile), m-DBCNPy ((Z)-3-(4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl)-2-(pyridin-3-yl)acrylonitrile), and p-DBCNPy ((Z)-3-(4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile) have been synthesized by tuning the substitution position of the pyridine ring. The linkage manner of the pyridine ring had influences on the molecular configuration and conjugation, thus leading to different photophysical properties. The absorption and fluorescence emission peak showed a bathochromic shift when the linking position of the pyridine ring changed from the meta to the ortho and para position. Meanwhile, o-DBCNPy exhibited the highest fluorescence quantum yield of 0.81 and the longest fluorescence lifetime of 7.96 ns as a neat film among all three isomers. Moreover, non-doped organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were assembled in which the molecules acted as the light-emitting layer. Due to the relatively prominent emission properties, the electroluminescence (EL) performance of the o-DBCNPy-based OLED was superior to those of the devices based on the other two isomers with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.31%. The results indicate that delicate molecular modulation of AIE molecules could endow them with improved photophysical properties, making them potential candidates for organic photoelectronic devices.

Efficient Purely Organic Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Selenium-Containing Conjugated Polymers for Signal-Amplified Oxygen Detection

Purely organic room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) polymers with good processability and flexibility over small molecular crystals are highly attractive. Although many non-conjugated polymers (non-CPs) with efficient RTP emission have been reported, the development of metal-free RTP CPs remains a formidable challenge. Herein, CPs with clear RTP emission in both doped and neat films are readily prepared by introducing a selenium-containing phenoselenazine unit into conjugated backbones. The resulting RTP CPs can achieve phosphorescence lifetimes ranging from microseconds to milliseconds and phosphorescence quantum yields of up to 17.2% in film states, representing the highest value for metal-free CPs. Moreover, these RTP polymer films can be used for ratiometric oxygen detection due to their sensitive RTP emission to oxygen. Remarkably, for the first time, these metal-free CPs demonstrate significant phosphorescent signal amplification with a Stern–Volmer quenching constant (KSV) value of up to 5.54 × 10–3 ppm–1, which is 250 times higher than that of their molecule counterpart.

Fluorescent sensors for the detection of free-base illicit drugs – Effect of tuning the electronic properties

Fluorescence-based detection of chemical vapours is of interest for low power, portable devices that can be used in the field. Detection using fluorescence quenching via photoinduced electron transfer has been widely explored for the detection of chemicals that have high electron affinities. However, the method cannot be used for compounds that have low electron affinities such as illicit drugs. In this manuscript we describe a family of four compounds that are designed to have large ionisation potentials and are capable of detecting free-base illicit drugs via a photoinduced hole transfer process. The materials are composed of a 2-(9,9-di-n-propylfluoren-2-yl)benzothiadiazole (Fl-BT) base unit, with its properties tuned through addition of different donor (9,9-di-n-propylfluorene) (Fl-BT-Fl) and acceptor [aldehyde (Fl-BT-CHO) and dicyanovinyl (Fl-BT-DCV)] units. The compounds could be solution processed to form good quality, neat thin films with photoluminescence quantum yields of between 35 % and 87 %. The films of the compounds containing the aldehyde and dicyanovinyl electron withdrawing groups were able to detect the vapours of (+)-methamphetamine, (±)-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, whereas the parent Fl-BT could not detect cocaine nor (±)-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine. In contrast, Fl-BT-Fl could only detect fentanyl. Combining the response of all four sensing materials provides a method for discriminating both fentanyl and (+)-methamphetamine. Finally, we found that while the ionisation potential was a key parameter for detecting free-base drugs, factors such as the physical interaction of the analytes with the sensing films were also important.

Polythiophenes with alkylthiophene side chains for efficient polymer solar cells

We synthesized two polythiophene derivatives with alkylthiophene side chains, named PT4T-0F and PT4T-2F. The introduction of alkylthiophene side chains endowed PT4T-0F with more ordered edge-on stacking in film, resulting in higher hole mobility of 0.45 cm2V−1s−1 in organic field-effect transistors in comparison to P3HT. Further introducing fluorine atoms, a mainly face-on orientation was achieved for PT4T-2F neat film, which was facilitated to charge transport and collection in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Using F8IC as acceptor, the PSC devices based on PT4T-2F achieved the champion efficiency of 10.48%, owing to the appropriate film morphology with moderate phase separation and favorable face-on molecular orientation. Such efficiency greatly outperformed those of PT4T-0F (2.85%) and P3HT (0.35%) based devices.

Enhanced strength and toughness of polylactic acid by blending with modified natural rubber having acetate pendant group

Among biobased and biodegradable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) is most widely used one. However, its poor mechanical properties need to be enhanced. In this study, PLA blend film with improved mechanical properties were developed without compromising any bio-content. For this, natural rubber derivative with acetate pendant group (ANR) and PLA blend films were prepared. First, natural rubber was epoxidized, and then partial acetylation was achieved by the ring-opening reaction of the epoxy groups. The epoxidation and the acetylation were examined by FTIR analysis. 1H-NMR spectrum revealed a 29% epoxidation and 8.25% acetylation degree. The Tg of natural rubber (−66°C) increased to −41°C and −31°C after epoxidation and acetylation, respectively. The compatibility of ENR and ANR with PLA was evident from the DSC results and Molau test. The morphology of PLA blend film containing 25 wt% of ANR (ANR25) was observed as well-dispersed fine droplets by SEM images. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, and yield strength of ANR25 were measured as 11.6 MPa, 397.3 MPa, and 6.9 MPa, respectively. These values are considerably higher than neat PLA film. Compared to reported studies on PLA toughening so far, increments in both the strength and elongation of ANR25 were observed by tensile tests. Moreover, highest toughness among all samples was determined as 18.8 MJm−3 for ANR25, which is 1.8 times higher than neat PLA. Thus, a strong and tough bio-based PLA blend was developed for film application such as packaging and sheeting.