A resilient and luminescent stimuli-responsive hydrogel from a heterotopic 1,8-naphthalimide-derived ligand†
Abstract
A heterotopic naphthalimide ligand N-(4-picolyl)-4-(4′-carboxyphenoxy)-1,8-naphthalimide HL is utilised for the formation of self-assembled soft materials. In the presence of K+ ions, L− forms a robust photoluminescent hydrogel 1 which is reversible under thermal, mechanical or chemical stimuli.