A Fluorescent Polyethylene With Good Processability and Mechanical Flexibility Prepared by a One‐Step Melt Mixing Strategy

Abstract To meet the growing demand for flexible wearable devices in the information era, the development of cost‐effective, easy‐processable, and mechanically sound flexible luminescent materials is pivotal but remains challenging. Here, a facile one‐step melt mixing strategy is reported to prepare the reprocessable polyethylene with high stable fluorescence (f‐PE) using low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and high‐dosages of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as raw materials. Typically, after 30 min mixing 50 g LDPE with 1 g BPO in a 110‐rpm mixer, the resulting f‐PE exhibited high fluorescent brightness and remarkable fluorescent stability. In addition to good fluorescent and mechanical properties, f‐PE also demonstrated excellent processability and can be processed using conventional melt processing methods for normal PE. Based on the results, the extended through‐space n‐π*/π‐π* interactions resulting from the high‐content BPO‐induced extensive grafting of oxygen‐containing functional groups on the main chain is proposed, as well as the chain scissions and rearrangement under strong melt shearing, may be main factors to contribute f‐PE with luminescent and processable properties. Thanks to advantages such as cost‐effective raw materials, and scalable and solvent‐free production, the f‐PE and its preparation technique show great potential for flexible wearable applications, bringing new opportunities for functionalizing traditional versatile PE.