Signal Inversion and Amplification of Circularly Polarized Luminescence in a Poly(phenylacetylene)-Based Composite System Assisted by Achiral PMMA

Multichannel regulable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is fascinating because of its fundamental and application interest. There are few reports on helical sense (P-/M-helix) modulation and chiral signal amplification of polyacetylenes with the assistance of achiral polymers and further applications in precisely and conveniently regulating CPL handedness and magnitude. Herein, a helical poly(phenylacetylene)-based CPL-active system was constructed, in which CPL inversion occurred by adding achiral PMMA into a helical poly(phenylacetylene)–CHCl3 solution. Significantly, there is almost 10 times magnification of luminescence dissymmetry factor values (|glum|) during this process. The above phenomena could be ascribed to the PMMA-assisted polyene backbone elongation and the formation of a more ordered helical structure for the poly(phenylacetylene)s. More interestingly, the CPL signal can be facilely inverted and switched by simply changing the thickness of the PPhAD/PMMA layer. The temperature-driven dynamic CPL handedness inversion and magnitude modulation can also be achieved. Based on the multiple regulations for CPL, logic operations were developed, and the practical application is further facilitated by designing various CPL patterns. This study establishes effective and convenient strategies to switch the handedness, magnitude, and wavelength of CPL, which may generate a breakthrough in the manufacturing of CPL-active smart materials and devices with promising application potential.