Paper-Based Humidity Sensors as Promising Flexible Devices, State of the Art, Part 2: Humidity-Sensor Performances

This review article covers all types of paper-based humidity sensor, such as capacitive, resistive, impedance, fiber-optic, mass-sensitive, microwave, and RFID (radio-frequency identification) humidity sensors. The parameters of these sensors and the materials involved in their research and development, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, semiconductors, and polymers, are comprehensively detailed, with a special focus on the advantages/disadvantages from an application perspective. Numerous technological/design approaches to the optimization of the performances of the sensors are considered, along with some non-conventional approaches. The review ends with a detailed analysis of the current problems encountered in the development of paper-based humidity sensors, supported by some solutions.

Understanding the vapochromic response of mixed copper(i) iodide/silver(i) Iodide nanoparticles toward dimethyl sulfide

We report on the vapochromic behavior of a series of homo- and heterometallic copper(i) iodide/silver(i) iodide nanoparticles when exposed to dimethyl sulfide (DMS) vapor. These systems show remarkable colorimetric sensing behavior via emission color upon DMS exposure, shifting from pink to green emission. Kinetics measurements of CuI/AgI nanoparticle reactions with DMS show a significant rate increase with increasing Ag(i) content. However, luminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of the post-exposure samples with varying Ag(i) content reveal that the luminophore is identical in all cases and contains no Ag(i) ions. To rationalize the experimental observations and determine the vapochromic response mechanism, molecular dynamic calculations were performed on model (111) cation-terminated surfaces of copper iodide crystals doped with variable amounts of silver. Computational studies indicate that heterometallic Cu/Ag systems have a stronger binding affinity towards DMS vapor molecules than homometallic CuI and that embedding of the DMS molecules into the surface is the primary intermediate by which the vapochromic response occurs.

Pyridinium 5-aminothiazoles: specific photophysical properties and vapochromism in halogenated solvents

Pyridinium-5-aminothiazoles exhibited bathochromically shifted absorption and fluorescence spectra, solvatochromism, and a reversible vapochromism specific to halogenated solvents.

Vapor-controlled linkage isomerization of a vapochromic bis(thiocyanato)platinum(II) complex: new external stimuli to control isomerization behavior

We synthesized a novel Pt(II)-diimine complex with a typical ambidentate thiocyanato ligand, [Pt(thiocyanato)(2)(H(2)dcbpy)] (1; H(2)dcbpy =4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine), and found that the complex 1 exhibits unique linkage isomerizations with drastic color and luminescence changes driven by exposure to volatile organic chemical (VOC) vapors in the solid state. Reaction between [PtCl(2)(H(2)dcbpy)] and KSCN in aqueous solution at 0 °C enabled successful isolation of an isomer with the S-coordinated thiocyanato ligand, [Pt(SCN)(2)(H(2)dcbpy)] (1SS·H(2)O), as a nonluminescent orange solid. Interestingly, 1SS·H(2)O was isomerized completely to one isomer with the N-coordinated isothiocyanato ligand, [Pt(NCS)(2)(H(2)dcbpy)] (1NN·3DMF) by exposure to DMF vapor, and this isomerization was accompanied by significant color and luminescence changes from nonluminescent orange to luminescent red. IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that adsorption of the DMF vapor and transformation of the hydrogen-bonded structure both played important roles in this vapor-induced linkage isomerization. Another isomer containing both S- and N-coordinated thiocyanato ligands, [Pt(SCN)(NCS)(H(2)dcbpy)] (1SN), was obtained as a nonluminescent yellow solid simply by exposure of 1SS·H(2)O to acetone vapor at room temperature, and about 80% of 1SS·H(2)O was found to be converted to 1SN. In the solution state, each isomer changed gradually to an isomeric mixture, but pure 1SS was regenerated by UV light irradiation (λ(irr.) = 300 nm) of an MeOH solution of the mixture. In the crystal structure of 1SN, the complex molecules were hydrogen-bonded to each other through the carboxyl groups of the H(2)dcbpy ligand and the N site of the thiocyanato ligand, whereas the 1NN molecules in the 1NN·4DMF crystal were hydrogen-bonded to the solvated DMF molecules. Competition of the hydrogen-bonding ability among the carboxyl groups of the H(2)dcbpy ligand, N and S atoms of the thiocyanato ligand, and the vapor molecule was found to be one of the most important factors controlling linkage isomerization behavior in the solid state. This unique linkage isomerization controlled by vapor can provide an outstanding vapochromic system as well as a new molecular switching function driven by vapor molecules.

Reversible tuning luminescent color and emission intensity: a dipeptide-based light-emitting material

A smart luminescent material whose emission color and emission intensity can be separately modulated by external force is demonstrated. The rational manipulation of rich noncovalent interactions and fluorophore packing style promotes an in-depth understanding between supramolecular structure and photophysical property and offers an effective strategy to modulate the light-emitting property in a predicative way.

Chemistry and applications of flavylium compounds: a handful of colours

Flavylium compounds are versatile molecules that comprise anthocyanins, the ubiquitous colorants used by Nature to confer colour to most flowers and fruits. They have found a wide range of applications in human technology, from the millenary colour paints described by the Roman architect Vitruvius, to their use as food additives, combining colour and antioxidant effects, and even as light absorbers in solar cells aiming at a greener solar energy conversion. Their rich complexity derives in part from their ability to switch between a variety of species (flavylium cations, neutral quinoidal bases, hemiketals and chalcones, and negatively charged phenolates) by means of external stimuli, such as pH, temperature and light. This critical review describes (i) the historical advancements in the understanding of the equilibria of their chemical reaction networks; (ii) their thermodynamics and kinetics; (iii) the mechanisms underlying their colour development, such as co-pigmentation and host-guest interactions; (iv) the photophysics and photochemistry that lead to photochromism; and (v) applications in solar cells, models for optical memories, photochromic soft materials such as ionic liquids and gels, and their properties in solid state materials (274 references).

Multistimuli-responsive benzothiadiazole-cored phenylene vinylene derivative with nanoassembly properties

A trifluoromethyl-substituted benzothiadiazole-cored phenylene vinylene fluorophore (1) was synthesized and displayed piezo- and vapochromism and thermo-induced fluorescence variation in solid phase. Grinding could disrupt the crystalline compound 1 with orange emission into amorphous compound 1 with green emission, and heating treatment could change the amorphous compound 1 into crystalline compound 1. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra, (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) characterizations demonstrated that crystalline and amorphous compound 1 possess different molecular packing. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement revealed that the emission switching was due to the exchange between the thermodynamic-stable crystalline and metastable amorphous states. The ground sample exhibited vapochromic fluorescence property. Furthermore, compound 1 showed interesting supramolecular assembly characteristics in solution. Slowly cooling the hot N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution of compound 1 resulted in the formation of orange fluorescent fibers, whereas sonication treatment of the cooling solution led to the generation of organic molecular gel. The field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM) and fluorescent microscopy images revealed smooth nano- or microfiber and network morphology properties. The PXRD spectra confirmed that these nano- or microstructures had a similar molecular-packing model with the crystalline state of compound 1. Slow evaporation of the toluene solution of compound 1 could produce green emissive microrods, which exhibited interesting thermo-induced fluorescence variation.