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

Abstract 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.