Room-temperature phosphorescence color tuning by a protonic acid doping strategy

In this study, we have proposed a protonic acid doping strategy to modulate the phosphorescence color of an organic/polymer host-guest doping system. Specifically, 1-naphthylamine(1-AN) doped in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) host exhibits yellow phosphorescence, while exhibiting green phosphorescence in poly(acrylic acid) (PAA, functions as both a matrix and a protonic acid, self-doping). The addition of hydrochloric acid into the 1-AN@PVA system also induces a green phosphorescence (external doping). This work provides an efficient approach for phosphorescence color tuning <i>via</i> acid doping.