Ultralong-Lived and Color-Tunable RTP in Biodegradable Natural Fibers Based Textiles for Wearable Security and Display

Room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials have great prospects in the next-generation optoelectronic applications. However, developing safe, color-adjustable, ultra-long-lasting and eco-friendly RTP materials remains challenging. In this study, natural collagen (Col) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were co-integrated through wet spinning technology, combined with aromatic amine phosphors, to construct biodegradable RTP fibers (Col/PVA/T, Col/PVA/B, Col/PVA/A). Through the hydrogen bond network between polymers and phosphorescent molecules, combined with the self-reinforcing rigid structure of the mixed matrix, Col/PVA/T fibers are endowed with outstanding RTP properties: phosphorescent lifetime up to 1.89 seconds, afterglow duration exceeding 14 seconds. The modular design strategy achieves adjustable multi-color emission (green/blue/yellow) by selecting phosphors. As inherently biocompatible and biodegradable materials, these fibers possess outstanding mechanical flexibility and textile compatibility, enabling the production of smart fabrics with excellent moisture permeability (1902 g m −2 24 h −1 ) and air permeability (368 mL cm −2 h −1 ). This research further demonstrates their transformative potential in anti-counterfeiting systems with time-resolved encryption capabilities and dynamic wearable displays. This work not only sets a new paradigm for eco-friendly luminescent textiles, but also Bridges the gap between sustainable materials and advanced photonic applications in personal safety and human-machine interfaces.