Luminescence-tuning and energy transfer mechanism of blends based on silicon-containing compounds

•A novel silicon-cored fluoranthene derivative was synthesized as a blue emitter.•A new perylene end-capped polymer was synthesized and selected as an orange emitter.•A series of luminescence was obtained by controlling the donor/acceptor ratios.•White light emission was obtained when the proper ratio was adopted.•The different energy transfer mechanisms in solution and film were investigated.

A series of tunable luminescence was obtained by controlling the donor/acceptor ratios. A silicon-cored fluoranthene derivative named bis (7,10-diphenyl-fluoranthene) methylphenylsilane (BFMPS) was used as the donor and a perylene end-capped polydimethylsiloxane (PECP) was used as the acceptor for preparing the blending systems. Efficient energy transfer was detected in these unique systems, which were composed of micromolecules and fluorescence macromolecules. In particular, pure white emission was obtained when the adequate blending ratio was adopted. Further characterizations and investigations were carried out to examine the energy transfer from donor to acceptor both in solution and in solid thin films. Two different energy transfer mechanisms were deduced from the investigation of the ultraviolet absorption and luminescence spectra. Radiative energy transfer was dominant in solution while Föster resonant energy transfer was dominant in thin films.

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