Thermo-Induced Fluorochromism in Two AIE Zinc Complexes: A Deep Insight into the Structure-Property Relationship

Molecules

Rosita Diana¹  Barbara Panunzi¹  Luigi Di Costanzo¹  Francesco Silvio Gentile²  Ugo Caruso²  Pellegrino Musto³ 

[1] Department of Agriculture, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy;Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Strada Comunale Cinthia, 26, 80126 Napoli, Italy;Institute on Polymers Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;

关键词: fluorochromism;    zinc complex;    AIEgens;    structure-properties relationship;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules27082551

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Solid-state emitters exhibiting mechano-fluorochromic or thermo-fluorochromic responses represent the foundation of smart tools for novel technological applications. Among fluorochromic (FC) materials, solid-state emissive coordination complexes offer a variety of fluorescence responses related to the dynamic of noncovalent metal-ligand coordination bonds. Relevant FC behaviour can result from the targeted choice of metal cation and ligands. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of two different colour emitters consisting of zinc complexes obtained from N,O bidentate ligands with different electron-withdrawing substituents. The two complexes are blue and orange solid-state fluorophores, respectively, highly responsive to thermal and mechanical stress. These emitters show a very different photoluminescent (PL) pattern as recorded before and after the annealing treatment. Through X-ray structural analysis combined with thermal analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, PL, and DFT simulation we provide a comprehensive analysis of the structural feature involved in the fluorochromic response. Notably, we were able to correlate the on-off thermo-fluorochromism of the complexes with the structural rearrangement at the zinc coordination core.

【 授权许可】

Unknown