Molecular‐scale optical energy transport is a key technology for next‐generation nanodevices. Herein, we report the solid‐state exciton transport properties of bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) coordination polymers, ZnDP nanochains, which are one‐dimensional molecular chains with precisely controlled lengths and sequences. While these nanochains are known to feature efficient exciton migration in solution, their functionality in an immobilized state—a prerequisite for device integration—has remained elusive, as aggregation upon solidification typically causes severe quenching of their photoluminescence. We addressed this issue by embedding the nanochains into polymer matrices of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Spectroscopic analysis of the resulting composite films demonstrates that the efficient intramolecular energy transfer from the bridging ligands to a terminal capping ligand is remarkably preserved. The photoluminescence quantum yield was revealed to respond to the matrix polarity and nanochain concentration. A low‐polarity PS matrix and a low doping concentration (0.1 wt%) were optimal to suppress non‐radiative decay pathways, such as charge separation and aggregation‐caused quenching. This work provides the first systematic validation of exciton transport in immobilized ZnDP nanochain, paving the way for their application as smart photonic components in miniaturized devices.
Taniguchi et al. (2026) studied this question.