Stereochemical Dependent Clusteroluminescence from Thiol-yne Click Polymers

Clusteroluminescence (CL) is a recently discovered phenomenon, in which ‘through space’ interactions in non-conjugated structures, can emit bright light (e.g. starch). Despite growing interest, the field still faces three major limitations: (1) it is unclear how to influence CL through structure–property relationships due to poorly defined spatial organization of CL luminogens within polymer chains and insufficient mechanistic understanding of the effect; (2) there is limited diversity in polymer systems that have been studied, with heavy reliance on natural products and commercial polymers rather than custom-designed architectures in studies to date; and (3) practical applications are, as yet, immature, thus limiting translation of CL into real-world use. To address these limitations, SCLP will establish the first quantitative structure–property relationship for CL polymers, enabling, for the first time, the rational design of new CL materials. The central objective is to achieve precise control over CL emission by manipulating polymer stereochemistry—specifically, cis/trans configurations—via sustainable thiol-yne click chemistry. This goal will be pursued through three integrated work packages: (1) synthesizing stereocontrolled polymers to unravel the fundamental photophysical mechanisms of CL; (2) engineering well-defined polymer architectures with tailored cluster size and density to regulate emission color and intensity; and (3), developing mechanoresponsive elastomers that exhibit reversible CL changes under mechanical strain for applications in smart materials. SCLP bridges a fundamental scientific gap transitioning from empirical observation to rational material design. It further supports sustainable innovation by leveraging green synthesis routes and holds significant economic potential through applications in flexible electronics, bioimaging, and sensing technologies, thereby strengthening Europe’s leadership in this emerging field.