Fluorochromic polymeric elastomer film containing copper nanoclusters in response to multistimuli

Smart chromic elastomers exhibiting multistimuli responsiveness are of interest with regard to the development of sensors, optical data storage, and smart wearable devices. We report a new design of Cu nanoclusters (Cu NCs) containing polymeric elastomer film, showing reversible fluorescence ON/OFF when subjected to organic solvents (e.g. ethanol, methanol and tetrahydrofuran), and heating/cooling cycles at temperatures lower than 80 °C. Different from the solvato-responsiveness of Cu NCs in solution state, organic solvents increase nonradiative decay and quench fluorescence emission in the solid polymer matrix. It is deduced that lower temperatures (<80 °C) increase reversible nonradiative decay, while higher temperatures (>80 °C) trigger an irreversible change of the aggregation state of Cu NCs in the elastomer film. A strong oxidizer (e.g. H₂O₂) irreversibly quenches the fluorescence emission and changes its color (under sunlight) from light green to blue, by oxidizing Cu NCs to Cu²⁺ ions. This Cu NC-containing elastomer film illustrates a new pathway to the fabrication of multi-responsive smart optical materials, particularly for potential applications in optical data storage (e.g. thermo-printing), and multistimuli-responsive elastomeric sensors integrated into wearable devices.