Color‐tunable room temperature phosphorescence mediated by host–guest chemistry and stimuli‐responsive polymer matrices

Abstract Color‐tunable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) luminescent materials with stimuli‐responsive properties are highly desirable for practical applications, but the fundamental design principles still need further exploitation. Herein, we report on the extended red‐shifted multicolor RTP afterglow from blue to orange, including white light, offered by a series of newly designed supramolecular polymers based on 1‐([2‐methylallyl]oxy)pyrene phosphor‐containing guest polymers and β ‐cyclodextrin ( β ‐CD)/ γ ‐CD host molecules. RTP enhancement is efficiently realized, attributing to the strong restriction on the dimeric pyrene units by the host–guest inclusion complexation of CDs and the multiple interactions amongst polymer matrices and phosphorescent moieties. Interestingly, a more comprehensive blue‐shifted color tuning range is also enabled upon introducing pH‐sensitive fragments due to the self‐assembly of the ternary polymers aided by ionic bonding. Notably, optimized intelligent multicolor RTP systems induced by altered external stimuli, including concentration, irradiation, and pH, are established, showing great potential in developing stimuli‐responsive luminescent materials for practical applications. In addition, theoretical calculations are conducted to elucidate diverse emission mechanisms of pyrene units in different assembly states.