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Tandem Auxochrome Design Enables Ready Access to Deep Shortwave Infrared Dyes
Kui Yan1, Zhuo Zeng1, Hongyue Liu1
1Department of Chemistry, College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChem, Shanghai Wusong Laboratory of Materials Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China.
Researchers developed compact organic molecules for shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging. This new tandem auxochromic design enables efficient spectral tuning for advanced photonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Organic Photonic Materials
- Spectroscopy and Imaging
Background:
- The shortwave infrared (SWIR) window (1.0-2.0 μm) is crucial for advanced photonic applications due to low signal attenuation in complex media.
- Developing compact organic molecules for full SWIR spectral coverage is challenging, often requiring extensive π-extension or complex fused-ring structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel tandem auxochromic design for efficient bandgap narrowing in organic molecules.
- To achieve continuous SWIR spectral tunability using compact, synthetically accessible organic dyes.
Main Methods:
- Employed a tandem auxochromic design with electronically coupled amino auxochromes via a π-conjugated spacer.
- Integrated the design onto a compact, charge-resonance-delocalized fluorenium scaffold.
- Utilized a concise three-step synthesis for dye development.
Main Results:
- Achieved continuous SWIR spectral tunability, extending into the deep-SWIR region (>1.5 μm).
- Developed dyes with exceptionally low molecular weight (590 Da).
- Demonstrated high spectral stability, laser power resistance, and oxidative stability in polar solvents.
Conclusions:
- The tandem auxochromic approach offers a more efficient method for bandgap narrowing compared to traditional extension strategies.
- The developed organic dyes are suitable for high-resolution *in vivo* and multiplexed SWIR imaging.
- This work provides a facile platform for exploring SWIR photonic phenomena with organic materials.
