One-pot fabrication of flexible and luminescent nanofilm by in-situ radical polymerization of vinyl carbazole on nanofibrillated cellulose

Photoresponsive functionalized nanofilms were prepared via radical polymerization of carbazole units on a nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) backbone via one-pot procedure. Herein, NFC was functionalized with active carbazole units as pendant organic moieties. The nanofilms were characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, C-13 NMR and proton NMR spectra, contact angle analysis, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fabricated nanofilms exhibited large tensile strength (similar to 110 MPa), higher hydrophobicity and luminescence activity. The results indicated that the prepared optically active nanofilms present potential applications in the fields of flexible organic light emitting devices.

Automated summary

Photoresponsive functionalized nanofilms with active carbazole units were prepared via radical polymerization on a nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) backbone. Characterized by various spectroscopy techniques and mechanical testing, these nanofilms showed high tensile strength, hydrophobicity, and luminescence activity, indicating potential applications in flexible organic light emitting devices.