A blue fluorescent waterborne polyurethane-based Zn(ii) complex with antibacterial activity

Polymer-based transition metal complexes have attracted much attention in many fields of application. In this article, a fluorescent polymer-based transition metal complex was prepared by bonding the transition metal complex with the polymer. First, Schiff base salicylaldehyde ethanolamine (HL) as a ligand was prepared by the reaction of salicylaldehyde with ethanolamine. Then, salicylaldehyde glycolamine Zn(ii) transition metal complexes (ZnL2) were synthesized with HL and Zn2+ as the central ion. Finally, a blue fluorescent waterborne-based polyurethane Zn(ii) complex (ZnL2-WPU) with an antibacterial function was prepared with ZnL2 as a chain extender by modified acetone method. The characteristics of fluorescence, heat stability, and bacteriostasis were characterized. Compared with ZnL2, the UV–vis absorption peak of ZnL2-WPU shows a blue shift of about 20 nm. ZnL2-WPU has a strong blue fluorescence emission at 450 nm, and the intensity increases significantly with ZnL2 content. Surprisingly, the fluorescence lifetime of ZnL2-WPU is obviously increased, reaching more than one time that of ZnL2. Interestingly, the antibacterial efficiency of ZnL2-WPU against E. coli reached an incredible 99%. More importantly, ZnL2-WPU uses water as the dispersing medium, which is more environmentally friendly.