Synthesis and characterization of 1D tris(8-quinolinolato) aluminum fluorescent fibers by electrospinning

A simple and versatile method called the electrospinning technology was used to fabricate poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/tris(8-quinolinolato) aluminum (Alq3) fluorescent hybrid fibers with smooth surface and uniform morphology. The morphology of fibers has been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and fluorescence microscopy. The diameter of the hybrid fibers was narrowly between 800 and 850 nm. FTIR spectra analysis showed that the Alq3 molecules interacted with the oxygen atoms on the PEO chains, which resulted in the changes of the crystalline phase of Alq3 in the as-prepared fibers. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra analysis indicated that the hybrid fibers’ peak position was red shifted due to the addition of PEO, compared with free standing Alq3.