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Stimulus‐Triggered Formation of an Anion–Cation Exciplex in Copper(I) Complexes as a Mechanism for Mechanochromic Phosphorescence
Author(s) -
Hupp Benjamin,
Nitsch Jörn,
Schmitt Tanja,
Bertermann Rüdiger,
Edkins Katharina,
Hirsch Florian,
Fischer Ingo,
Auth Michael,
Sperlich Andreas,
Steffen Andreas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201807768
Subject(s) - phosphorescence , excimer , photochemistry , copper , ion , chemistry , stimulus (psychology) , mechanism (biology) , fluorescence , organic chemistry , optics , psychology , philosophy , physics , epistemology , psychotherapist
The investigation of the mechanisms of mechanochromic luminescence is of fundamental importance for the development of materials for photonic sensors, data storage, and luminescence switches. The structural origin of this phenomenon in phosphorescent molecular systems is rarely known and thus the formulation of structure–property relationships remains challenging. Changes in the M–M interactions have been proposed as the main mechanism with d 10 coinage metal compounds. Herein, we describe a new mechanism—a mechanically induced reversible formation of a cation–anion exciplex based on Cu–F interactions—that leads to highly efficient mechanochromic phosphorescence and unusual large emission shifts from UV‐blue to yellow for Cu I complexes. The low‐energy luminescence is thermo‐ and vaporesponsive, thus allowing the generation of white light as well as for recovering the original UV‐blue emission.