Super Phosphorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (PRET) of Clusterization-Triggered Emission Enables Full-Spectrum Dynamic Room-Temperature Afterglow

Clusterization-triggered emission is emerging as a powerful strategy leading to useful luminescence such as room-temperature phosphoresce (CTE-RTP), yet people's recognition on CTE-RTP is still very limited, so that it remains challenging to achieve multicolor CTE-RTP due to the difficulty in tailoring the clustering state of the atoms with lone pair electrons. The authors report that phosphorescence resonance energy transfer (PRET) can occur in the CTE-RTP system, which enables fine-tuning the color of the CTE-RTP. Since the CTE-RTP is a broad band in the range of 400-700 nm, and the dipole orientations are diverse in the CTE material, PRET can always occur between the CTE-RTP and arbitrary fluorescent dyes to obtain delayed fluorescence ranging from green to near infrared. Because the lifetime of the delayed fluorescence depends on their molecular structure, dynamic afterglow can be facilely achieved in the ensemble of a PRET-CTE-RTP system, making it very appealing in anticounterfeiting.

Automated summary

Clusterization-triggered emission (CTE) is a powerful strategy for achieving useful luminescence, such as room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP). However, the recognition of CTE-RTP is still limited. In this study, the authors demonstrate phosphorescence resonance energy transfer (PRET) in the CTE-RTP system, allowing precise control over the color of the emission. PRET can occur between CTE-RTP and fluorescent dyes, resulting in delayed fluorescence spanning from green to near infrared. This system enables facile achievement of dynamic afterglow, making it highly appealing for anticounterfeiting applications.