AIE-active smart cyanostyrene luminogens: polymorphism-dependent multicolor mechanochromism†
Wei Yang,Chunlin Liu,Shuang Lu,Jinya Du,Qingyun Gao,Ronghua Zhang,Yi Liu,Changying Yang
Journal of Materials Chemistry C Pub Date : 12/04/2017 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C7TC04773H
Abstract

Multicolor mechanochromic luminescent (MCL) materials are promising candidates in fundamental science and practical applications. In this paper, a series of novel smart luminescent compounds based on a cyanostyrene unit, NAIF, NA-15C5, NAPM, NAIP and NAPF, have been developed. NAIF, NAPM, NAPF and NAIP all exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics and individually show red, orange, yellow and green emission in their aggregated state. Luminogens NA-15C5 and NAPM display reversible tricolor-changing MCL behaviors. NAIF and NAIP show bicolor switching mechanochromic phenomena. Additionally, different molecular packing modes of two crystalline polymorphs, NAPM-y and NAPM-o with bright yellow and orange luminescence color, rationally explain the tricolor-changing mechanochromic mechanism. Moreover, luminogen NAIP can be used as ink-free rewritable paper.

Graphical abstract: AIE-active smart cyanostyrene luminogens: polymorphism-dependent multicolor mechanochromism