Nanofibrous composite samples based on a Cu(I) complex and its polymer host: Synthesis, characterization and emissive performance improvement

• A diamine ligand of an electron-pulling group and its Cu complex were reported for O2 sensing.
• It was immobilized into a polymer host using electrospinning method.
• Hotophysical comparison between bulk and composite samples was performed.
• Polymer rigid framework could effectively suppress complex structural distortion.
• Emission blue shift, long emissive lifetime and improved photostability were observed.

This effort reported a diamine ligand having an electron-pulling group in its conjugation plane. Its corresponding Cu(I) complex was analyzed and discussed by means of NMR, single crystal analysis, density functional theory calculation and photophysical measurement. It was found that this Cu(I) complex took a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry whose onset electronic transition had a mixed character of metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT). To suppress structural distortion of this MLCT excited state, this Cu(I) complex was immobilized into a polymer host using electrospinning method. Photophysical performance comparison between bulk sample, solution sample and composite samples indicated that polymer rigid framework could effectively suppress MLCT structural distortion, leading to emission blue shift, long emissive lifetime and improved photostability.

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