Phosphorescent self-healing composites containing Re(I) complexes: preparation and properties

Abstract

To obtain self-healing phosphorescent composites, four Re(I) complexes, Re-Ura-a (a = 1–4) with uracil group were synthesized. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra of Re-Ura-a (a = 1–4) are mainly comprised of the π→π* transitions (200–400 nm) and the metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions (400–450 nm). The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Re-Ura-a (a = 1–4) peaking at 576–584 nm possess the biexponential excited-state decay lifetimes (τ) of 0.19–0.43 μs. The PL spectra of Re-Ura-a@PAA (a = 1–4, PAA = polyacrylic acid) gel blocks redshift to ca. 600 nm with τ values of ca. 0.33 μs. The Re-Ura-1(0.6 wt%)@PAA gel blocks could bear maximum stress of 0.191 MPa and maximum strain of 525%, and they could be ca. 40% self-healed in 5 min after being severed. Finally, the energies of the H-bonds between the carboxylic group of PAA and different parts of Re-Ura-1 were theoretically simulated to investigate the intermolecular interactions between Re-Ura-1 and PAA.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Re(I) Complexes
• phosphorescence
• self-healing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for financial aid from the Scientific and Technological Planning Project of Jilin Province (No. 20170101190JC), the Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of Changchun University of Science and Technology (No. XJJLG-2016-04), and the Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Project of Changchun University of Science and Technology (No. 201810186075).