Photonic logic gates based on control of FRET by a solvatochromic perylene bisimide

New perylenebisimide derivatives hydroxyperylenebisimide and naphthoperylenebisimide were obtained and applied to construct a new solvatochromic dyad 9. The solvatochromic behavior of hydroxyperylenebisimide was studied, and the structure of naphthoperylenebisimide was determined by X-ray crystallography. The spectral studies indicated that the hydroxyperylenebisimide and naphthoperylenebisimide units of dyad 9 were strongly coupled in the ground state, and as a result the fluorescence of the naphthoperylenebisimide unit was almost quenched and that of the hydroxyperylenebisimide unit was greatly enhanced due to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). As we expected, this FRET process could be tuned with the addition of protons, base, and ferric ions. This behavior of dyad 9 could be interpreted by a two-input INH logic gate, while in the presence of Fe(III), the ion complex of 9 could execute a two-input XOR logic gate. By changing the output signal, a combinational logic circuit with three inputs could also be interpreted.