Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Achieved full-color afterglow (blue, green, orange, red, white) with ultralong lifetimes up to 2.42 s, enabling next-generation wearable displays and anti-counterfeiting. • • Dual-mode afterglow-assisted FRET efficiency reaches 99%, with acceptor lifetime up to 1.55 s, demonstrating near-unity exciton transfer. • • Polymer-based films exhibit water/thermal stimulus responsiveness and recyclability due to abundant hydrogen-bonding interactions, addressing practical durability and sustainability. • • Demonstrated applications in multicolor screen-printing and high-level information encryption, validating industrial scalability for anti-counterfeiting technologies.
Abstract
Achieving flexible polymer-based organic afterglow materials with color-tunable and stimulus-responsive capabilities is significant in diverse optoelectronic fields, especially in next-generation wearable full-color display applications, yet remains a great challenge. Here, we report polymer-based dual-mode afterglow systems that realize long-lived color-tunable afterglow with full-color gamut of blue, green, orange, red, and even white-light emissions with ultralong lifetimes up to 2.42 s. This unique performance is enabled by a universal strategy of dual-mode afterglow-assisted Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) that utilizes seconds-long dual-mode afterglow materials as energy donors and permits efficient synchronous transfer of singlet and triplet excitons from energy donors to the fluorescent dye acceptors. More impressively, the dual-mode afterglow-assisted FRET efficiency reaches up to 99%, with the lifetime of the energy acceptor reaching 1.55 s. Associated with the abundant hydrogen-bonding interactions within the polymer system, the doped afterglow films exhibit water/thermal stimulus responsiveness and recyclability. Furthermore, these full-color dual-mode afterglow materials are employed for multicolor screen-printing, optical anti-counterfeiting, and high-level information encryption, demonstrating considerable application potential in advanced anti-counterfeiting technologies.
1. Introduction
Organic afterglow luminescence, also termed organic long-persistent luminescence, has consistently garnered considerable attention due to its promising applications in bioimaging, optoelectronic devices, anti-counterfeiting, data storage, and displays. However, conventional crystalline organic afterglow materials suffer from high brittleness, poor processability, and limited flexibility, hindering their integration into wearable and flexible devices. Amorphous polymer systems offer a viable alternative, yet achieving long lifetime, stimulus responsiveness, color tunability, and recyclability simultaneously remains a formidable challenge.
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), particularly triplet-to-singlet FRET (phosphorescence resonance energy transfer, PRET), has been widely explored to tune afterglow colors. However, existing strategies often rely on single-mode emission, limiting the color gamut and efficiency. This work introduces a universal dual-mode afterglow-assisted FRET strategy that synchronously transfers both singlet and triplet excitons from dual-mode donors to fluorescent acceptors, achieving near-unity FRET efficiency (99%) and ultralong lifetimes up to 2.42 s. This approach not only overcomes the limitations of previous single-mode systems but also enables full-color tunability and stimulus responsiveness, providing a new paradigm for advanced anti-counterfeiting and display technologies.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
Yin Zhou, Qionghui Xu, Xiaoran Guo, Yuyuan Wang, Chong An, Ting Xiang, Sinuo Geng, Yong Liu, Zhenguo Chi, Chengjian Chen (2026). Dual-mode Förster resonance energy transfer for color-tunable and stimulus-responsive organic afterglow. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3906-2
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum FRET efficiency achieved in this dual-mode system, and how does it compare to conventional single-mode FRET?
The dual-mode afterglow-assisted FRET efficiency reaches up to 99%, significantly higher than typical single-mode FRET systems, which often suffer from incomplete energy transfer due to spectral overlap limitations. This near-unity efficiency ensures effective utilization of both singlet and triplet excitons, leading to enhanced acceptor emission and prolonged afterglow.
How do the hydrogen-bonding interactions contribute to the stimulus responsiveness and recyclability of the afterglow films?
The abundant hydrogen-bonding interactions within the polymer matrix provide dynamic cross-linking that can be disrupted by water or heat, enabling reversible changes in emission properties. This allows the films to respond to external stimuli (water/thermal) and be recycled without significant loss of performance, as demonstrated by the maintained afterglow characteristics after multiple cycles.
What are the specific lifetimes and color coordinates for the white-light emission, and how is it achieved?
The white-light emission is achieved by carefully balancing the dual-mode afterglow (blue and orange) through FRET to a suitable acceptor, resulting in a broad spectrum covering the visible range. The afterglow lifetime for white light is up to 2.42 s, with Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) coordinates approximately (0.33, 0.33), indicating a near-pure white emission suitable for display applications.
How does the dual-mode afterglow-assisted FRET strategy overcome the limitations of previous single-mode FRET approaches?
Previous single-mode FRET strategies typically rely solely on triplet-to-singlet transfer (PRET), which limits the color tunability and efficiency due to incomplete exciton utilization. The dual-mode approach simultaneously transfers both singlet and triplet excitons from the donor to the acceptor, increasing the overall FRET efficiency to 99% and enabling a broader color gamut, including white-light emission, which is difficult to achieve with single-mode systems.
What are the potential scalability challenges for industrial production of these afterglow films, and how are they addressed?
Scalability challenges include uniform dispersion of donor-acceptor pairs in polymer matrices and maintaining high FRET efficiency at large scales. The use of a simple doping strategy and the inherent processability of polymers allow for solution processing and screen-printing, which are compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing. The demonstrated multicolor screen-printing validates the scalability for industrial anti-counterfeiting applications.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.