Sonochemistry-assisted reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization for synthesizing multicolor room-temperature phosphorescent polymers

Abstract

The coupling of ultrasound with reversible-deactivation radical polymerization offers intriguing possibilities for synthesizing polymers in heterogeneous media, as ultrasonic waves are beneficial for achieving uniform monomer dispersion and mitigating aggregation. In this study, sonochemistry-assisted reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (SA-RAFT) polymerization was demonstrated to exhibit first-order kinetics throughout polymerization and excellent control over the growth of polymer nanoobjects in suspension, providing a high monomer conversion (∼90%) and a gradient copolymer (GCP) with a predetermined molecular weight. In addition, the GCP films could emit full-visible-spectrum room-temperature phosphorescence under UV irradiation via Förster resonance energy transfer. Remarkably, the GCP films could be stretched to approximately 400% and maintain stable RTP emission under a strain of up to 150%.