Cucurbit[7]Uril-Based Self-Assembled Supramolecular Complex with Reversible Multistimuli-Responsive Chromic Behavior and Controllable Fluorescence

Wang, Xiao Feng; Lin, Rui Lian; Sun, Wen Qi; Liu, Jing Xin; Xu, Li Xin; Redshaw, Carl; Feng, Xing

Abstract

Multistimuli-responsive color-changing materials have potential applications in areas such as chemical sensing and anti-counterfeiting. In this work, a fluoro-phenyl-acetyl-substituted viologen derivative (FPAV·Cl2) is synthesized, which can form a supramolecular inclusion complex with cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) via self-assembly. Significantly, the resulting inclusion complex FPAV2+@Q[7] in the solid-state exhibits visual color changes in response to multiple external stimuli including light, heat, and vapors of ammonia and organic amines. The electron spin resonance (ESR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectra analysis reveals that the photochromic, thermochromic, and vapochromic behavior of FPAV2+@Q[7] is due to the generation of FPAV+• free radicals resulting from electron transfer. Furthermore, in the solid-state, FPAV2+@Q[7] shows controllable fluorescence regulated by its chromic process. Based on the multi stimuli-responsive color-changes and fluorescence properties of FPAV2+@Q[7], its practical applications in erasable inkless printing, multiple anti-counterfeiting processes, visible ammonia/organic amines detection, and information encryption are demonstrated. The supramolecular strategy of encapsulating viologen derivatives into macrocycles provides a general method for fabricating multi stimuli-responsive chromic materials with multiple practical applications.

Citation

Wang, X. F., Lin, R. L., Sun, W. Q., Liu, J. X., Xu, L. X., Redshaw, C., & Feng, X. (in press). Cucurbit[7]Uril-Based Self-Assembled Supramolecular Complex with Reversible Multistimuli-Responsive Chromic Behavior and Controllable Fluorescence. Advanced Optical Materials, Article 2400839. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202400839

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 5, 2025
• Print ISSN: 2195-1071
• Electronic ISSN: 2195-1071
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: 2400839
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202400839
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4710463