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Stimuli‐Responsive Copolymer and Uniform Polymeric Nanoparticles with Photochromism and Switchable Emission
Author(s) -
Wang Sheng,
Li Teng,
Zhang Xiaoduo,
Ma Liangwei,
Li Chenpeng,
Yao Xuyang,
Cao Derong,
Ma Xiang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemphotochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2367-0932
DOI - 10.1002/cptc.201900042
Subject(s) - photochromism , copolymer , polymer , materials science , photochemistry , förster resonance energy transfer , fluorescence , nanoparticle , polymerization , chemical engineering , intermolecular force , smart polymer , derivative (finance) , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , molecule , chemistry , organic chemistry , optics , physics , engineering , financial economics , economics , composite material
An efficient approach to make a fluorescent polymer both photoswitchable and stimuli‐responsive was successfully developed by rationally introducing a photochromic bisthienylethene derivative (BTE) and fluorescent 4‐dicyanomethylene‐2,6‐distyryl‐4H‐pyran derivative (DPC) units in the side chains via copolymerization. Benefiting from the reversible photocyclization of BTE and the intermolecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) effect from DPC to the closed form of BTE, the emission signatures of the polymer both in solution in organic solvents and in thin films could be tuned by the alternating irradiation of ultraviolet and visible light. Moreover, uniform polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with reversibly photoswitchable fluorescence properties were synthesized using a facile one‐step mini‐emulsion polymerization. This polymer could act as a smart material for photoresponsive polymer illuminants and offers new platform for multifunctional molecular switching and multi‐responsive materials.