Switching the emission of di(4-ethoxyphenyl)dibenzofulvene among multiple colors in the solid state

Stimuli-fluorochromic smart organic materials

Smart materials based on stimuli-fluorochromic π-conjugated solids (SFCSs) have aroused significant interest due to their versatile and exciting properties, leading to advanced applications. In this review, we highlight the recent developments in SFCS-based smart materials, expanding beyond organometallic compounds and light-responsive organic luminescent materials, with a discussion on the design strategies, exciting properties and stimuli-fluorochromic mechanisms along with their potential applications in the exciting fields of encryption, sensors, data storage, display, green printing, etc. The review comprehensively covers single-component and multi-component SFCSs as well as their stimuli-fluorochromic behaviors under external stimuli. We also provide insights into current achievements, limitations, and major challenges as well as future opportunities, aiming to inspire further investigation in this field in the near future. We expect this review to inspire more innovative research on SFCSs and their advanced applications so as to promote further development of smart materials and devices.

Aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE)-active tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based chemosensor for CN. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2021;245:118928. [PMID: 32950857 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118928]

An aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE)-active fluorescent sensor has been successfully designed and synthesized, combining the AIE effect of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with the cyanide acceptor of phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole. The sensor exhibits not only the property of AIEE in DCM/n-hexane or THF/H₂O, but also the phenomenon of mechanofluorochromic (MFC). It displays large Stokes shift (107 nm) due to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process. The cation of CN^- boosts the ICT process to make the greater Stokes shift (184 nm) with the fluorescent color vary from blue-green to sodium-yellow and visually turning from light yellow to dark yellow in the naked eyes. The results of Job's plot, ESI-MS and the DFT calculations provide the stoichiometric ratio and electronic properties of the sensor. Furthermore, the sensor could be applied to qualitative and quantitative detection of CN^- on test paper strips.

Vapochromic crystals: understanding vapochromism from the perspective of crystal engineering

Vapochromic materials, which undergo colour and/or emission changes upon exposure to certain vapours or gases, have received increasing attention recently because of their wide range of applications in, e.g., chemical sensors, light-emitting diodes, and environmental monitors. Vapochromic crystals, as a specific kind of vapochromic materials, can be investigated from the perspective of crystal engineering to understand the mechanism of vapochromism. Moreover, understanding the vapochromism mechanism will be beneficial to design and prepare task-specific vapochromic crystals as one kind of low-cost 'electronic nose' to detect toxic gases or volatile organic compounds. This review provides important information in a broad scientific context to develop new vapochromic materials, which covers organometallic or coordination complexes and organic crystals, as well as the different mechanisms of the related vapochromic behaviour. In addition, recent examples of supramolecular vapochromic crystals and metal-organic-framework (MOFs) vapochromic crystals are introduced.

Efficient solid-state emission and reversible mechanofluorochromism of a tetraphenylethene-pyrene-based β-diketonate boron complex

A new twisted donor–acceptor (D–A) dye (BF₂-TP) that was composed of tetraphenylethene and pyrene connected with a β-diketonate boron moiety has been synthesized and characterized. Such a dye showed unique intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) features, which were evidenced by spectral analysis and theoretical calculations. More importantly, BF₂-TP solid samples exhibited an obvious mechanofluorochromic (MFC) behavior. Upon grinding with a spatula, the as-prepared powder sample illustrated a remarkable red shift of 62 nm, with considerable color contrast from yellow (562 nm) to orange red (624 nm). Its fluorescence color can be reversibly switched by repeating both the grinding–fuming and grinding–annealing processes. The mechanochromism is attributed to the phase transformation between amorphous and crystalline states. The results obtained would be helpful for designing novel MFC materials.

A new twisted dye (BF₂-TP) was synthesized, it possesses distinct mechanofluorochromism with large spectral shift of 62 nm.

Remarkable substitution influence on the mechanochromism of cyanostilbene derivatives

Well-designed full-color emission, AIE, CIEE-active luminogens and high contrast mechanochromic behaviour.

Mechanochromic Luminescence of Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens

Mechanochromic (MC) luminogens have found promising applications in mechanosensors, security papers, and optical storage for their change in emission behaviors in response to mechanical stimuli. Examples on MC luminescent materials are rare before the discovery of MC luminescence in aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens. The twisted conformations of AIE luminogens (AIEgens) with appropriate crystallization capability afford loosely packing patterns, which facilitates their phase transformation in the solid state. The amorphous films of AIEgens exhibit enhanced emission intensity upon pressurization due to the increased molecular interactions, whereas crystals of AIEgens exhibit MC luminescence due to their amorphization by mechanical stimuli. AIEgens enrich the type of MC luminogens but those showing high emission contrast and multicolor emission switching and those working in a turn-on emission mode are seldom reported. Disclosure of the design strategy of high performance MC luminogens and exploration of their high-tech applications may be the future research directions for MC luminogens.

Mechanochromic behavior of aryl-substituted buta-1,3-diene derivatives with aggregation enhanced emission

Three tetra-aryl substituted 1,3-butadiene derivatives with aggregation enhanced emission (AEE) and mechanochromic fluorescence behavior have been rationally designed and synthesized. The results suggest an effective design strategy for developing diverse materials with aggregation induced emission (AIE) and significant mechanochromic performance by employing D-π-A structures with large dipole moments.