Depolymerizable and Recyclable Luminescent Polymers

Solution processable luminescent polymers are of great interest in a number of photonic technologies, including electroluminescence, bioimaging, medical diagnosis, bio-stimulation, and security signage. Ensuring the integration of depolymerizability and recyclability factors into the initial stages of the material design is of pivotal for promoting sustainability and mitigating environmental impacts throughout the entire product lifecycle. In this work, we unprecedently propose a general design concept utilizing cleavable moiety, herein tert-butyl ester, to create programmable depolymerizable and potentially recyclable thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) polymers, without compromising their highly efficient luminescent properties. The programmable depolymerizability and remarkable luminescent properties of these polymers exemplify an innovative benchmark for endowing end-life environmental friendliness and circular economy to current photonic technologies.