Silicon-linked polyethylene glycol-polyethylene terephthalate (PEG-PET) nanostructures loaded with Eu3+-complexes for hybrid luminescent PET materials

In this work, innovative hybrid poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) materials with strong luminescence were successfully synthesized by doping PET with silicon-linked poly(ethylene glycol)-PET copolymer nanostructures either with (Si-PEG-PET) or with (ETP@Si-PEG-PET) luminescent Eu 3+ -complexes. The chemical properties and nanostructures of the hybrid materials were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. PET composites ranging from 0.25 to 4 wt% silicon additive were prepared by the melt blending method. The crystal properties, mechanical properties, and fluorescence properties of the composites were systematically studied by differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffractometry, tensile testing, and fluorescence spectrometry. When the addition of Si-PEG-PET or ETP@Si-PEG-PET was 0.75 wt%, the relative crystallinity and maximum tensile strength increase substantially. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of hybrid luminescent PET materials is the strongest at 0.75 wt% loading. ETP@Si-PEG-PET not only endows PET polyester with stronger fluorescence properties and mechanical properties but also acts as an effective nucleation additive for PET. Highlights Silicon-linked poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PEG-PET) nanostructures generate hybrid luminescent PET materials. ETP@Si-PEG-PET improves the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PET. The composite with 0.75% addition showed the best fluorescence performance. Three-dimensional-grid structure of ETP@Si-PEG-PET enhances the mechanical property of PET.