Synergistic Enhancement of Room-Temperature Phosphorescence through Metal Coordination and Structural Confinement

Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable photophysical properties. Achieving ultralong-lived, efficient, and stable RTP emission is of great importance. Herein, we have synthesized micrometer-sized scandium/methionine phosphorescent materials (Sc/Met-PMs) via hydrothermal polymerization, which exhibit excitation-dependent green phosphorescence (phos.) emission at 500 nm. After coordination with Sc3+ ions to form Sc/Met-PMs, the phosphorescent efficiency of Met ligands is significantly enhanced, manifesting as a 13.33-times increase in phos. intensity. Meanwhile, sodium fluoride (NaF)-treated Sc/Met-PMs (NaF@Sc/Met-PMs) can further enhance phos. efficiency of Sc/Met-PMs through structural confinement, demonstrating a 1.12-fold increase in emission intensity and a 1.57-fold extension in lifetime. With their unique optical properties, Sc/Met-PMs demonstrate promising potential for advanced information encryption. This study not only develops high-performance RTP materials but also provides fundamental insights into RTP mechanisms.