Stimuli-responsive metal-free phosphorescent materials: From design and mechanisms to emerging applications

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) material hold great potential for diverse optoelectronic applications due to their high sensitivity and rapid response. Among these, metal-free RTP systems have emerged as a particularly promising research focus, attributed to their advantageous properties, such as low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and ease of processing. Despite the significant strides made in this dynamic field, a comprehensive review that consolidates the latest breakthroughs remains conspicuously absent. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in stimuli-responsive metal-free RTP materials, including organic molecules, polymers, carbon dots, and biomass. We discuss their intricate design strategies, dynamic behaviors under various external stimuli, and stimuli-responsive mechanisms, along with their potential applications in the fields of information security, sensing, bioimaging, and smart optical devices. Additionally, we present a range of perspectives that emphasize the current challenges and promising future opportunities associated with stimuli-responsive metal-free RTP materials across various domains. We anticipate that this review will offer valuable insights and guidelines to inspire more innovative research on stimuli-responsive metal-free RTP systems, thereby promoting the further development of smart luminescent materials and their multifunctional applications.