Recently, researchers have created fluorescent coatings by combining fluorescent chemicals with resins and other substrates. Under certain conditions, the fluorescent coating can emit fluorescence, and the fluorescence emitted by external stimuli (such as ions, forces and pH changes) will change. It can be used for things like corrosion warning, ion detection, anti-counterfeiting encryption, and so on.
Alfa Chemistry can help you with fluorescent coating services that are tailored to your needs. We have a wide range of fluorescent material and coating combining methods, as well as research experience in the design and fabrication of fluorescent coatings using various fluorescent groups. Please contact us to build your unique fluorescent coating together.
Does Your Product Need Fluorescent Coatings?
Under external inputs, smart materials based on fluorescent chemicals can display matching fluorescence changes. Combining them with resins to make coatings can help to overcome the issues of poor efficiency and single function, as well as produce some unique functionalities.
- The construction of the corresponding fluorescent coating for metal corrosion can achieve corrosion self-warning based on the metal corrosion process.
- Fluorescent coatings can be utilized in biomedicine to achieve tracing goals by utilizing the specificity of fluorescence.
- Fluorescent coatings' unique fluorescence display capabilities under specified conditions can also be employed to prevent counterfeiting of some precious items.
Fig 1. In vivo imaging of pig model, guidance, recognition and visualization during surgery. (Ashoka A. H, et al. 2020)
Choose the Type of Fluorescent Coating
Alfa Chemistry draws on its broad experience to create a variety of luminous coatings by combining fluorescent compounds with polymer resins. Fluorescent coatings are divided into two forms based on how the fluorescent component is linked to the resin: doped and bonded.
Doped fluorescent coatings
In-situ polymerization, electrostatic contact, mechanical co-mingling, and melt co-mingling are all examples of physical mixing of luminous chemicals into polymer resins. Its advantages include a simple procedure, low cost, and other factors that make it suitable for mass production.
Bonded fluorescent coatings
Bound fluorescent coating refers to a fluorescent material that is chemically bonded into the polymer resin molecule, improving the fluorescent coating's durability and suppressing aggregation burst to a degree. Fluorescent polyurethane coatings are the main focus of research on bonded fluorescent coatings.
Fig 2. Fluorescence microscope images of epoxy resin after copper samples are immersed in sodium chloride solution for different times. (Tian X. L, et al. 2020)
Choose Fluorescent Groups
Alfa Chemistry uses different types of natural or synthetic fluorescent substances to design and construct fluorescent coatings, including fluorescent proteins, organic fluorophores, rare earth complexes, and luminescent nanoparticles.
| Fluorescent Groups | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages | Fluorescent Material |
|---|
| Fluorescent proteins | This is a typical class of natural fluorophores that are widely found in wandering worms, ctenophores, fireflies, etc. Their fluorescence emission is usually derived from intrinsic aromatic amino acids. | Good fluorescence stability;
Superior biocompatibility;
Intrinsic fluorescence;
Suitable for bioimaging. | Complex structure;
Susceptible to environmental influences.
Emission colors and intensities are not easily modulated; | eYFP
Fluorescein
mTagBFP, eGFP, and mCherry |
| Organic fluorophores | Organic fluorophores can fine-tune the emission intensity, color, and loudness through careful structural design, and are important components in the design and construction of multifunctional phosphors. | Finely tuned emission intensity, color and responsiveness by elaborate structure design;
Easily available from commercial sources. | Prone to photobleaching;
Unstable physical and chemical properties. | Tetraphenylethylene
ACN
TPE-2CH2Br
Near-infrared dyes
Rhodamine B derivative |
| Lanthanide complexes | Its metal-controlled photoluminescence exhibits unique properties, usually characterized by high luminescence quantum yields, sharp emission bands, high color purity, and excellent photochemical stability. | Sharp emission bands;
High color purity;
Dynamic coordination;
Multiple emission lines;
Fabulous photochemical stability. | Poor solubility;
Unstable physical and chemical properties;
Easy to absorb water causing clusters;
Fluorescence quenching may occur at a smaller concentration. | Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2
Eu,Tb
Eu(MA)3 |
| Luminescent nanoparticles | Compared with traditional organic fluorophores, luminescent nanoparticles have the following advantages: adjustable emission color and intensity, low toxicity, and stable chemical and physical properties. | Size-dependent fluorescence;
High photochemical stability;
Low cytotoxicity;
Chemical and physical stability. | Complex structure;
Optical properties largely depend on particle synthesis and surface modification. | CDs
ZnO
SiNSs |
References
- Ashoka A. H, et al. (2020). "Nearinfrared Fluorescent Coatings of Medical Devices for Imageguided Surgery." Biomaterials. 261: 120306.
- Wei S. X, et al. (2021). "Multicolor Fluorescent Polymeric Hydrogels." Angewandte Chemie international edition. 60(16): 8608-8624.
- Tian X. L, et al. (2021). "Corrosion Monitoring Effect of Rhodamine-Ethylenediamine on Copper Relics under A Protective Coating." ACS omega. 5(34): 21679-21683.
