Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles

Abstract Long-persistent afterglows based on organic donor-acceptor systems feature ultra-long duration reaching hours, leading to the advantages in long-time-range display and bio/medical applications. However, the understanding of this optical phenomenon is insufficient. Herein, dibenzothiophene-p...

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Main Authors: Chunying Zhang, Guang Lu, Zicheng Wang, Ying Zhao, Yi Man, Jing Zhang, Chunbo Duan, Chunmiao Han, Hui Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60863-6
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author Chunying Zhang
Guang Lu
Zicheng Wang
Ying Zhao
Yi Man
Jing Zhang
Chunbo Duan
Chunmiao Han
Hui Xu
author_facet Chunying Zhang
Guang Lu
Zicheng Wang
Ying Zhao
Yi Man
Jing Zhang
Chunbo Duan
Chunmiao Han
Hui Xu
author_sort Chunying Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Long-persistent afterglows based on organic donor-acceptor systems feature ultra-long duration reaching hours, leading to the advantages in long-time-range display and bio/medical applications. However, the understanding of this optical phenomenon is insufficient. Herein, dibenzothiophene-phosphine oxide hybrids named nDBTxPO with different room temperature phosphorescence characteristics are used as acceptor matrixes. It shows that after doping N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as donor, afterglow intensities and durations of nDBTxPO:1% TMB are strongly correlated to the stabilized triplet state (Tn*) properties of nDBTxPO. Compared to other congeners, high-population and high-lying Tn * state of 28DBTDPO matrix supports the positive and efficient energy transfer to nCT* states of 28DBTDPO-TMB local dipoles in the doped film. This energy relay between two long-persistent Tn * and nCT* states is the key determinant resulting in the longest afterglow of 28DBTDPO:1% TMB. This work provides clear insight into energy transfer for lightly-doping donor-acceptor systems, therefore will promote the accurate system design for practical applications.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-cf7d8a93e5d24ed7b56dad38c3e3aa9c2025-08-20T03:03:29ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611910.1038/s41467-025-60863-6Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipolesChunying Zhang0Guang Lu1Zicheng Wang2Ying Zhao3Yi Man4Jing Zhang5Chunbo Duan6Chunmiao Han7Hui Xu8School of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science & Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang UniversityAbstract Long-persistent afterglows based on organic donor-acceptor systems feature ultra-long duration reaching hours, leading to the advantages in long-time-range display and bio/medical applications. However, the understanding of this optical phenomenon is insufficient. Herein, dibenzothiophene-phosphine oxide hybrids named nDBTxPO with different room temperature phosphorescence characteristics are used as acceptor matrixes. It shows that after doping N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as donor, afterglow intensities and durations of nDBTxPO:1% TMB are strongly correlated to the stabilized triplet state (Tn*) properties of nDBTxPO. Compared to other congeners, high-population and high-lying Tn * state of 28DBTDPO matrix supports the positive and efficient energy transfer to nCT* states of 28DBTDPO-TMB local dipoles in the doped film. This energy relay between two long-persistent Tn * and nCT* states is the key determinant resulting in the longest afterglow of 28DBTDPO:1% TMB. This work provides clear insight into energy transfer for lightly-doping donor-acceptor systems, therefore will promote the accurate system design for practical applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60863-6
spellingShingle Chunying Zhang
Guang Lu
Zicheng Wang
Ying Zhao
Yi Man
Jing Zhang
Chunbo Duan
Chunmiao Han
Hui Xu
Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
Nature Communications
title Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
title_full Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
title_fullStr Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
title_full_unstemmed Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
title_short Ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room-temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
title_sort ultralong afterglow enabled by energy relay from room temperature phosphorescent matrixes to local dipoles
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60863-6
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