Photoactivated Multicolor Organic Phosphorescence in Intrinsically Stretchable, Self-Healable and Recyclable Polymers

Abstract

Smart persistent organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials, capable of responding to microenvironmental changes, are critically important in various optoelectronic applications. However, conventional persistent RTP materials usually have not stretchability and flexibility, limiting some practical applications. This study reports a facile and one-pot photo-initiated copolymerization method to prepare photoactivated persistent RTP polymers with multicolored afterglow, excellent stretchability, self-healable and recyclable properties. Impressively, the polymers can be stretched up to 500% without significant loss in RTP intensity and lifetime, and they possess a self-healing ability with a healing efficiency of 69.6%. Utilizing these photoactivated and stretchable persistent RTP polymers, dual encryption can be achieved under UV irradiation and stretching conditions, thereby enhancing the security levels of the stored confidential information. Overall, this study represents the first example of self-healable and recyclable stimuli-responsive RTP materials, demonstrating their bright future for the flexible and wearable optoelectronics.