Depolymerizable and recyclable luminescent polymers with high light-emitting efficiencies

Wei Liu, Yukun Wu, Aikaterini Vriza, Cheng Zhang, Hyocheol Jung, Shiyu Hu, Yuepeng Zhang, Du Chen, Peijun Guo, Benjamin T. Diroll, Glingna Wang, Richard D. Schaller, Henry Chan, Jianguo Mei (), Sihong Wang () and Jie Xu ()
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Wei Liu: The University of Chicago
Yukun Wu: Argonne National Laboratory
Aikaterini Vriza: Argonne National Laboratory
Cheng Zhang: The University of Chicago
Hyocheol Jung: Argonne National Laboratory
Shiyu Hu: Argonne National Laboratory
Yuepeng Zhang: Argonne National Laboratory
Du Chen: Yale University
Peijun Guo: Yale University
Benjamin T. Diroll: Argonne National Laboratory
Glingna Wang: The University of Chicago
Richard D. Schaller: Argonne National Laboratory
Henry Chan: Argonne National Laboratory
Jianguo Mei: Purdue University
Sihong Wang: The University of Chicago
Jie Xu: The University of Chicago

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 8, 1048-1056

Abstract: Abstract Luminescent polymers are of great interest in a number of photonic technologies, including electroluminescence, bioimaging, medical diagnosis, bio-stimulation and security signage. Incorporating depolymerizability and recyclability into luminescent polymers is pivotal for promoting their sustainability and minimizing their environmental impacts at the end of the product lifecycle, but existing strategies often compromise the light-emitting efficiencies. Here we develop a strategy that utilizes cleavable moiety to create depolymerizable and recyclable thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) polymers without compromising their high light-emitting efficiencies. The electroluminescent devices based on the TADF polymers achieved a high external quantum efficiency of up to 15.1 %. The TADF polymers can be depolymerized under either mild acidic or heating conditions, with precise control of the kinetics, and the obtained pure monomers can potentially be isolated and repolymerized for subsequent life applications. This work promotes the end-of-life environmental friendliness and circularity of luminescent materials, paving the way to a sustainable photonic industry.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01373-z

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