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Dual-Phase High-Emission Fan-Shaped Donor-Acceptor Molecules for Multiple-Scenario VOC Sensing
Wenpeng Wei1, Xiaozheng Zhao1, Mengjia Li1
1Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Energy Conversion Materials and Devices, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Solar Cell Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050023, China.
Researchers developed novel fan-shaped fluorophores with ultrahigh dual-state photoluminescence. These materials overcome limitations in solution and solid states, showing promise for advanced environmental sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Photophysics
Background:
- Donor-acceptor fluorophores often exhibit poor luminescence efficiency in solution or solid states.
- Nonradiative decay and aggregation-caused quenching are key challenges limiting fluorophore performance.
- Developing materials with high dual-state emission is crucial for advanced optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize novel fan-shaped fluorophores with ultrahigh photoluminescence in both solution and solid states.
- To investigate the structure-property relationships enabling dual-state emission and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics.
- To explore the potential of these fluorophores in solvent polarity sensing, gasoline discrimination, and vapor sensing.
Main Methods:
- Rational molecular design of fan-shaped fluorophores (compounds 1 and 2) incorporating bulky carbazole/triphenylamine branches.
- Photoluminescence spectroscopy to measure quantum yields in solution (ΦDIO) and solid state (Φsolid).
- Investigation of intramolecular motion restriction and π-π stacking inhibition through structural analysis.
- Testing for solvent polarity sensing, visual gasoline grade discrimination, and fluorescent sensing of benzene derivative vapors.
Main Results:
- Achieved ultrahigh photoluminescence quantum yields in solution (ΦDIO = 0.99) and solid state (Φsolid = 0.92).
- Demonstrated effective suppression of nonradiative decay and aggregation-caused quenching via bulky substituents.
- Exhibited pronounced intramolecular charge transfer for solvent polarity sensing and gasoline grade discrimination.
- Developed aggregates of molecule 2 as a highly sensitive (84 ppb detection limit for benzene), rapid (∼2.44 s), and selective fluorescent sensor for benzene derivative vapors.
Conclusions:
- The fan-shaped molecular design strategy successfully yields high-performance dual-phase emissive materials.
- Bulky carbazole/triphenylamine branches are key to achieving both high solution efficiency and aggregation-induced emission.
- These fluorophores show significant potential for practical applications in environmental sensing and material science.
