A Wavelength Rule for the Analysis of Clusteroluminescence

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Original languageEnglish
Article number1908
JournalPolymers
Volume17
Issue number14
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jul 2025

Abstract

A key discovery of this study is the strong correlation (r = 0.96) between excitation and emission maxima across chemically distinct clusteroluminogens. All 157 evaluated peaks fall along a single regression line (Ex = 0.844 Em − 12 nm), a pattern that was not valid for conventional fluorophores. This suggests a general principle of clusteroluminescence. We show that in lignocellulosic materials, peak positions reflect chemical interactions: isolated lignin and cellulose showed short excitation and emission wavelengths, while native wood exhibited longer wavelengths. Fungal or photoinduced degradation led to a further red-shift. These effects are attributed to increased molecular heterogeneity, reducing the effective energy gap within the lignocellulosic complex. We conclude that the spectral position reflects the degree of molecular interaction rather than the chemical structure of individual molecules. It may serve as a novel analytical parameter for assessing purity and degradation in a wide range of polymers.

Keywords

    clusteroluminescence, excitation-dependent emission, excitation-emission correlation, polymer luminescence, red-shift, through-space interaction, wood fluorescence

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A Wavelength Rule for the Analysis of Clusteroluminescence. / Peters, Frank B.; Rapp, Andreas O.
In: Polymers, Vol. 17, No. 14, 1908, 10.07.2025.

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Peters FB, Rapp AO. A Wavelength Rule for the Analysis of Clusteroluminescence. Polymers. 2025 Jul 10;17(14):1908. doi: 10.3390/polym17141908
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AU - Peters, Frank B.

AU - Rapp, Andreas O.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.

PY - 2025/7/10

Y1 - 2025/7/10

N2 - A key discovery of this study is the strong correlation (r = 0.96) between excitation and emission maxima across chemically distinct clusteroluminogens. All 157 evaluated peaks fall along a single regression line (Ex = 0.844 Em − 12 nm), a pattern that was not valid for conventional fluorophores. This suggests a general principle of clusteroluminescence. We show that in lignocellulosic materials, peak positions reflect chemical interactions: isolated lignin and cellulose showed short excitation and emission wavelengths, while native wood exhibited longer wavelengths. Fungal or photoinduced degradation led to a further red-shift. These effects are attributed to increased molecular heterogeneity, reducing the effective energy gap within the lignocellulosic complex. We conclude that the spectral position reflects the degree of molecular interaction rather than the chemical structure of individual molecules. It may serve as a novel analytical parameter for assessing purity and degradation in a wide range of polymers.

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KW - excitation-dependent emission

KW - excitation-emission correlation

KW - polymer luminescence

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KW - through-space interaction

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