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Reversible Switching between Phosphorescence and Fluorescence in a Unimolecular System Controlled by External Stimuli
Author(s) -
Xu Jing,
Feng Hui,
Teng Hao,
Chen Guilin,
Pan Saifei,
Chen Jianrong,
Qian Zhaosheng
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201801739
Subject(s) - phosphorescence , protonation , photochemistry , singlet state , fluorescence , molecule , triplet state , excited state , solvent , rational design , chemistry , materials science , chemical physics , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , atomic physics , physics , ion , quantum mechanics
Manipulation of the emission properties of pure organic molecules through external stimuli is attractive but challenging. Herein, a dual‐emissive hexathiobenzene‐based molecule is reported with significant aggregation‐induced phosphorescence characteristics, and demonstrates reversible switching among blue, green, and yellow phosphorescence by controlling molecular aggregation state or protonation state. Variation of solvent or pH value manipulates the interconversion between fluorescence and phosphorescence, while the change in protonation state in organic solvent switches two short‐lived emissions in a controllable manner. Such a controlled manipulation is achieved by the rational design of combining a twisted structure and the proper arrangement of energy gaps among different excited states. This work provides a new design principle for organic molecules with efficient room‐temperature phosphorescence and tunable singlet–triplet emissive properties, and contributes to the design and development of smart materials and intelligent optoelectronic devices.