Stimuli‐Responsive Copolymer and Uniform Polymeric Nanoparticles with Photochromism and Switchable Emission. Issue 7 (23rd April 2019) - Wang, Sheng
Abstract: An efficient approach to make a fluorescent polymer both photoswitchable and stimuli‐responsive was successfully developed by rationally introducing a photochromic bisthienylethene derivative (BTE) and fluorescent 4‐dicyanomethylene‐2, 6‐distyryl‐4H‐pyran derivative (DPC) units in the side chains via copolymerization. Benefiting from the reversible photocyclization of BTE and the intermolecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) effect from DPC to the closed form of BTE, the emission signatures of the polymer both in solution in organic solvents and in thin films could be tuned by the alternating irradiation of ultraviolet and visible light. Moreover, uniform polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with reversibly photoswitchable fluorescence properties were synthesized using a facile one‐step mini‐emulsion polymerization. This polymer could act as a smart material for photoresponsive polymer illuminants and offers new platform for multifunctional molecular switching and multi‐responsive materials. Abstract : An efficient approach to make a fluorescent polymer both photoswitchable and stimuli‐responsive was developed by introducing a photochromic bisthenylethene derivative (BTE) and fluorescent 4‐dicyanomethylene‐2, 6‐distyryl‐4H‐pyran derivative (DPC) units in the side chains via copolymerization. Uniform polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with reversibly photoswitchable fluorescence properties were also synthesized using a facile one‐step mini‐emulsion polymerization.