Room-Temperature Phosphorescence in the Amorphous State Enhanced by Copolymerization and Host–Guest Complexation

Organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) has received much attention, and yet most organic RTP materials are in the crystalline state, limiting their wide applications. Herein, we provide a new strategy to enhance RTP in the amorphous state by copolymerization and host–guest complexation. A random copolymer, prepared from acrylamide and a crown ether derivative, shows not only satisfactory RTP but also improved phosphorescent behavior in the presence of K+. Acrylamide units in the polymeric material provide sufficient hydrogen bonds to immobilize the crown ether. Moreover, the phosphorescence efficiency of the copolymer can be adjusted by host–guest recognition, and a promoted quantum yield as well as a longer lifetime are observed after the complexation with K+. Information encryption is also successfully realized by taking advantage of the different phosphorescence lifetimes of these polymers. This work offers a new avenue for constructing RTP polymeric materials with the advantages of simple preparation, processability, and controllability.