Breakthrough in Room Temperature Phosphorescence with Carbonized Polymer Dots

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Southwest University in Chongqing, People's Republic of China, have made a significant discovery in the field of room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) using carbonized polymer dots (CPDs). The study, published in the journal Reactive & Functional Polymers, aimed to overcome the challenges of preparing long-lived RTP CPDs. The team successfully created a composite material by introducing arginine-CPPDs into a rigid boric acid matrix, achieving a remarkable RTP lifetime of 983 ms (18 s for naked eyes), which is nearly seven times longer than that of the matrix-free CPDs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at Southwest University developed a composite material by combining arginine-CPPDs with a rigid boric acid matrix, enhancing the RTP lifetime of the composite to 983 ms (18 s for naked eyes).
  • The study demonstrated the potential applications of carbonized polymer dots-based room temperature phosphorescence composites in anti-counterfeiting and white light-emitting diodes.
  • The addition of nitrogen-rich arginine framework and phosphorus doping to the CPDs accelerated intersystem crossing and promoted the generation of triplet excitons.
  • The formed C-B covalent bond between arginine-CPPDs and the rigid B2O3 matrix restricted the vibration and rotation of CPDs, inhibiting non-radiative transitions and enhancing RTP emission.
  • The research provides a promising pathway for the development of long-lived RTP CPDs and their applications in various fields.

Statistics:

  • RTP lifetime of the composite material: 983 ms (18 s for naked eyes)
  • Increase in RTP lifetime compared to matrix-free CPDs: nearly seven times
  • Number of authors contributing to the research: 7 (Yichuan Zhang, Yajie Zhang, Chuan Huang, Xingyuan Liao, Saiyaer Sidike, Mingming Guo, and authors not mentioned)

Sources:

  • Zhang, Y., et al. (2025). Carbonized Polymer Dots-based Room Temperature Phosphorescence Composites for Anti-counterfeiting and White Light-emitting Diodes. Reactive & Functional Polymers, 216.
  • NewsRx. (2025, November 4). New Findings on Electronics from Southwest University Summarized (Carbonized Polymer Dots-based Room Temperature Phosphorescence Composites for Anti-counterfeiting and White Light-emitting Diodes). Electronics Newsweekly, p 223.