Dye-Incorporated Carbonized Polymer Dots with Tunable Solid-State Emission Based on Intraparticle Förster Resonance Energy Transfer

Abstract

Carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) exhibiting tunable solid-state emission (SSE) show great promise as rare-earth-free functional phosphors. Nevertheless, progress in this field has been hindered by the structural heterogeneity of CPDs and a lack of fundamental understanding of the underlying emission mechanisms. In this work, a universal approach is presented for the large-scale, controlled synthesis of CPDs with tailored SSE properties. This strategy leverages intraparticle Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) by incorporating selected fluorophores into self-assembled CPDs nanostructures. The resulting CPDs exhibit exceptional SSE characteristics, such as high quantum yields, adjustable band structures, narrow emission linewidths, and excellent photostability in both solution and solid-state. Moreover, the multifunctional capabilities of these CPDs are demonstrated, including efficient light harvesting, their potential as nanocarriers, and their application in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This findings establish self-assembly-mediated doping as a robust platform for engineering CPDs with unique SSE properties, underpinned by the principles of intraparticle FRET.