Effects of substituents in polyvinylcarbazole structures on their optical properties

Absorption, photoluminescence, and photoluminescence excitation spectra of solutions and thin films of N-vinylcarbazole polymers and copolymers with various substituents directly on the carbazole moiety and on the polymer chain were studied comprehensively. Polymers that were used previously to develop polymer composites with polymethine dyes having photosensitivity over a broad spectral range including the visible and near-IR regions were selected for the studies.

Engineering surface states of carbon dots to achieve controllable luminescence for solid-luminescent composites and sensitive Be2+ detection

Luminescent carbon dots (L-CDs) with high quantum yield value (44.7%) and controllable emission wavelengths were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. Importantly, the surface states of the materials could be engineered so that their photoluminescence was either excitation-dependent or distinctly independent. This was achieved by changing the density of amino-groups on the L-CD surface. The above materials were successfully used to prepare multicolor L-CDs/polymer composites, which exhibited blue, green, and even white luminescence. In addition, the excellent excitation-independent luminescence of L-CDs prepared at low temperature was tested for detecting various metal ions. As an example, the detection limit of toxic Be2+ ions, tested for the first time, was as low as μM.