A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states

Abstract Seeking methods to realize multiple fluorescence changes in a single luminogenic system is of great importance for both chemistry and bionics research. Due to the lack of effective strategies and functional motifs, luminogens with multiple switching and controllable models are still scarce....

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Main Authors: Xinyuan He, Baochuan Hu, Xin Wang, Xing Feng, Xinyuan Wang, Xinmeng Chen, Jianwei Sun, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Lianrui Hu, Ben Zhong Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61717-x
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author Xinyuan He
Baochuan Hu
Xin Wang
Xing Feng
Xinyuan Wang
Xinmeng Chen
Jianwei Sun
Jacky W. Y. Lam
Lianrui Hu
Ben Zhong Tang
author_facet Xinyuan He
Baochuan Hu
Xin Wang
Xing Feng
Xinyuan Wang
Xinmeng Chen
Jianwei Sun
Jacky W. Y. Lam
Lianrui Hu
Ben Zhong Tang
author_sort Xinyuan He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Seeking methods to realize multiple fluorescence changes in a single luminogenic system is of great importance for both chemistry and bionics research. Due to the lack of effective strategies and functional motifs, luminogens with multiple switching and controllable models are still scarce. Herein, we report a chromone-based aggregation-induced emission luminogen called Z-CDPM, which exhibit six distinct, tunable thermal and photoswitchable states, offering controllable thermochromic or photochromic behavior under varying conditions. Specifically, five different reactions are involved: reversible Z/E isomerization, irreversible cyclization and elimination under thermal treatment, and photoarrangement of Z-CDPM and its thermal cyclization product under UV irradiation. The relative independence of the switching states is effectively maintained. Experimental and theoretical analyses validate our design strategies and provide valuable insights into the detailed mechanisms of these reactions, and single crystals further confirm their structures. Additionally, practical applications, including multiple-colored images, quick response codes, and an advanced information encryption system, are developed to demonstrate the utility. This work thus provides effective strategies and structural motifs for the design of multiresponsive luminogens and multifunctional systems.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-d5421379d9544ae486259e9fb9fb49b92025-08-20T03:46:28ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-61717-xA chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable statesXinyuan He0Baochuan Hu1Xin Wang2Xing Feng3Xinyuan Wang4Xinmeng Chen5Jianwei Sun6Jacky W. Y. Lam7Lianrui Hu8Ben Zhong Tang9Department of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayShanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal UniversityCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Fine Organic Synthesis, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Inner Mongolia UniversitySchool of Material and Energy, Guangdong University of TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayDepartment of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayDepartment of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayDepartment of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayShanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water BayAbstract Seeking methods to realize multiple fluorescence changes in a single luminogenic system is of great importance for both chemistry and bionics research. Due to the lack of effective strategies and functional motifs, luminogens with multiple switching and controllable models are still scarce. Herein, we report a chromone-based aggregation-induced emission luminogen called Z-CDPM, which exhibit six distinct, tunable thermal and photoswitchable states, offering controllable thermochromic or photochromic behavior under varying conditions. Specifically, five different reactions are involved: reversible Z/E isomerization, irreversible cyclization and elimination under thermal treatment, and photoarrangement of Z-CDPM and its thermal cyclization product under UV irradiation. The relative independence of the switching states is effectively maintained. Experimental and theoretical analyses validate our design strategies and provide valuable insights into the detailed mechanisms of these reactions, and single crystals further confirm their structures. Additionally, practical applications, including multiple-colored images, quick response codes, and an advanced information encryption system, are developed to demonstrate the utility. This work thus provides effective strategies and structural motifs for the design of multiresponsive luminogens and multifunctional systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61717-x
spellingShingle Xinyuan He
Baochuan Hu
Xin Wang
Xing Feng
Xinyuan Wang
Xinmeng Chen
Jianwei Sun
Jacky W. Y. Lam
Lianrui Hu
Ben Zhong Tang
A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
Nature Communications
title A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
title_full A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
title_fullStr A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
title_full_unstemmed A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
title_short A chameleon AIEgen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
title_sort chameleon aiegen exhibiting six distinct yet tunable thermal and photoswitchable states
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61717-x
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