Issue 40, 2022

Multistimuli-responsive materials based on a zinc(ii) complex with high-contrast and multicolor switching

Abstract

The development of stimulus-responsive luminescent materials, especially those based on a single compound exhibiting multicolor and high-contrast (Δλem ≥ 100 nm) chromic properties, is a critical challenge. In this work, we synthesized and characterized a zinc(II) complex (1). As expected, 1 displays aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) in THF/H2O mixtures, and remarkable multicolor switching under external stimuli in the solid state. Complex 1 shows reversible mechanochromic luminescence behavior with a large wavelength shift (Δλem = 100 nm) during the grinding–fuming cycles, due to the phase transformation between the crystalline and amorphous states. More impressively, 1 exhibits obvious acidochromic properties (Δλem = 130 nm) which originate from the adsorption of vapor and a gas–solid reaction on the crystal surface. Furthermore, 1 exhibits electrochemical oxidation behavior accompanied by quenching of yellow-green emission due to the overlap of an emission band and an absorption band. The above-mentioned color changes under ambient light can also be observed by the naked eye during the mechanical, acid–base vapor and electrical stimulation. Based on the high-contrast and multicolor switching, complex 1 was successfully developed into test papers and films in the field of rapid detection of mechanical stimuli and HCl/NH3 vapors.

Graphical abstract: Multistimuli-responsive materials based on a zinc(ii) complex with high-contrast and multicolor switching

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 7 2022
Accepted
12 9 2022
First published
14 9 2022

Dalton Trans., 2022,51, 15370-15375

Multistimuli-responsive materials based on a zinc(II) complex with high-contrast and multicolor switching

H. Zheng, D. Yang, Y. Shi, T. Xiao and X. Zheng, Dalton Trans., 2022, 51, 15370 DOI: 10.1039/D2DT02435G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements