Combined Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE), Photochromism and Photoresponsive Wettability in Simple Dichloro-substituted Triphenylethylene Derivatives

Ou, Depei; Yu, Tao; Yang, Zhiyong; Luan, Tiangang; Mao, Zhu; Zhang, Yi; Liu, Siwei; Xu, Jiarui; Chi, Zhenguo; Bryce, Martin R.

Abstract

A dichloro-substituted triphenylethylene derivative (TrPECl2) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE), photochromism and photoresponsive wettability has been synthesized. The new compound shows fast-response photochromic behaviour, with good ON/OFF repeatability by utilizing a proposed stilbene-type intramolecular photocyclization in the solid state. Compared with the more usual diphenylethylene derivatives, the photochromic properties of the triphenylethylene derivative is much more striking and easier to achieve. The triphenylethylene derivative also displays AIE properties leading to strong fluorescence in the solid state. Therefore, both the ultraviolet-visible absorption and fluorescence emission are drastically changed during the photochromic processes. Furthermore, the morphology of the TrPECl2 microcrystalline surface could be controlled by irradiation. The wettability of the surface could be drastically decreased with contact angles of a water droplet changing from 73o to 118o. The triphenylethylene derivative with a simple molecular structure is, therefore, attractive for multifunctional materials.

Citation

Ou, D., Yu, T., Yang, Z., Luan, T., Mao, Z., Zhang, Y., …Bryce, M. R. (2016). Combined Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE), Photochromism and Photoresponsive Wettability in Simple Dichloro-substituted Triphenylethylene Derivatives. Chemical Science, 7(8), 5302-5306. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6sc01205a

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 23, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 29, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 29, 2016
• Journal: Chemical Science
• Print ISSN: 2041-6520
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-6539
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 5302-5306
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c6sc01205a
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1385864