Reversible vapochromic response of polymer films doped with a highly emissive molecular rotor

Minei P, König M, Battisti A, Ahmad M, Barone V, Torres T, Guldi DM, Brancato G, Bottari G, Pucci A (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry C Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 2

Pages Range: 9224-9232

Journal Issue: 43

DOI: 10.1039/c4tc01737d

Abstract

We report on a new vapochromic system suitable for sensing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on polymer films doped with 4-(diphenylamino)phthalonitrile (DPAP), a fluorescent molecular rotor sensitive to both solvent polarity and viscosity. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) films containing small amounts of DPAP (≤0.1 wt%) were prepared and exposed to saturated atmospheres of different VOCs. DPAP/PMMA films show a good and reversible vapochromism when exposed to VOCs with high polarity index and favourable interaction with polymer matrices such as THF, CHCl3, and acetonitrile. Analogously, DPAP/PC films exposed to polar and highly polymer-interacting solvents, that is, toluene, THF, and CHCl3, show a gradual decrease and red-shift of the emission. In contrast to DPAP/PMMA films, an unexpected increase and further red-shift of fluorescence are observed at longer exposure times as a consequence of an irreversible, solvent-induced crystallization process of PC. The vapochromism of DPAP-doped films is rationalized on the basis of alterations of the rotor intramolecular motion and polarity effects stemming from the environment, which, in concert, influence the deactivation pathways of the DPAP intramolecular charge transfer state. Overall, the present results support the use of DPAP-enriched plastic films as a new chromogenic material suitable for the detection of VOCs.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias König Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie I Dirk Michael Guldi Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie I

Involved external institutions

Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (SNS) IT Italy (IT) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy IT Italy (IT) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) ES Spain (ES) University of Pisa / Università di Pisa (UniPi) IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Minei, P., König, M., Battisti, A., Ahmad, M., Barone, V., Torres, T.,... Pucci, A. (2014). Reversible vapochromic response of polymer films doped with a highly emissive molecular rotor. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2(43), 9224-9232. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4tc01737d

MLA:

Minei, Pierpaolo, et al. "Reversible vapochromic response of polymer films doped with a highly emissive molecular rotor." Journal of Materials Chemistry C 2.43 (2014): 9224-9232.

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