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Geminiarene-Based Charge-Transfer Cocrystals with Dichromatic Variants and Stimuli-Responsive Structural
Susu Ren1, Yu-Xiang Sun1, Zi-Yu Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, MOE, Department of Materials Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P.R. China.
Researchers developed a novel dichromatic stimuli-responsive charge-transfer (CT) cocrystal using geminiarene. This system exhibits distinct colors and can differentiate organic solvents, advancing intelligent material design.
Area of Science:
- Organic crystal engineering
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive charge-transfer (CT) cocrystals are crucial for advanced materials but challenging to engineer.
- Developing materials with tunable optical properties and sensing capabilities remains a key objective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel gemini CT cocrystal system with dichromatic stimuli-responsiveness.
- To explore the potential of this system as a dichromatic sensing material for organic solvents.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and single-crystal structure determination of gemini CT cocrystals.
- Spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis, fluorescence) and theoretical calculations (DFT).
- Evaluation of the cocrystal system's response to organic solvents.
Main Results:
- Two types of gemini CT cocrystals with distinct colors were formed via exo-wall interactions between geminiarene and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene.
- Color differences are attributed to the dual molecular conformations of geminiarene and their electronic properties.
- The system demonstrated dichromatic sensing capabilities for distinguishing organic solvents and exhibited a loop-locked structural transition.
Conclusions:
- The gemini CT cocrystal system offers a new strategy for designing intelligent responsive materials.
- This work expands the scope of CT cocrystal engineering for sensing and adsorption applications.
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