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Mechanically induced luminescence changes in molecular assemblies

Nature Chemistry volume 1, pages 605–610 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Altering the shape and properties of a material through external factors such as heat, light, pressure, pH, electric or magnetic fields, or the introduction of a guest molecule, is an attractive prospect. In this Perspective, piezochromic luminescent materials — which change the colour of their luminescence in response to mechanical stimuli — are described. Such piezochromism has been observed for a few molecular materials that contain luminescent cores in liquid-crystalline and crystalline solid states, as well as for polymeric materials doped with dyes. These changes in photoluminescent colour can be activated by various types of mechanical pressure such as shearing, grinding or elongation, which can trigger different mechanisms of producing the colour. Such stimuli-responsive materials have potential for various applications, including sensors, memory and displays.

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Figure 1: Piezochromic luminescence observed for compounds 1a and 1b.
Figure 2: Emission images and schematics for the switch of luminescent colour associated with changes in molecular assembled structures, induced by isothermal mechanical stimuli, for compound 1a.
Figure 3: Piezochromic luminescence exhibited by powders of the pyrene derivative 3.
Figure 4: Piezochromic luminescence exhibited by a powder of the Au(I) complex 6.
Figure 5: Switching the luminescent colour of dye-doped polymers.
Figure 6: Mechano-responsive luminescent polymeric beads.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshimitsu Sagara & Takashi Kato

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  1. Yoshimitsu Sagara
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  2. Takashi Kato
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Correspondence to Takashi Kato.

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Sagara, Y., Kato, T. Mechanically induced luminescence changes in molecular assemblies. Nature Chem 1, 605–610 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.411

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