Controllable fabrication of stimuli-responsive fluorescent silica nanoparticles using a tetraphenylethene-functionalized carboxylate gemini surfactant. Issue 40 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Saisai; Gao, Zhinong; Han, Jia; Zhang, Zhengqin; Niu, Fei; Zhang, Yingfang
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 40(2019)
• Page Start: 12588
• Page End: 12600
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c9tc03732b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : A fluorophore-free green synthetic strategy was presented for the preparation of stimuli-responsive FSNs, which could be further tuned using N16 -TPE-N16 . Abstract : Exploring stimuli-responsive luminescent materials is still an urgent need for fabricating smart nanodevices. Herein, by taking advantage of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect originating from nonconventional chromophores, stimuli-responsive fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SiO2 -NH2 -F) have been facilely constructed without adding any fluorophores. The SiO2 -NH2 -F can not only provide fascinating blue emission but also contrasting fluorescence and shape-transforming responses to acidic pH and high temperature. Significantly, the nanostructure and stimuli-responsive fluorescence properties of SiO2 -NH2 -F could be further tuned using a tetraphenylethene (TPE)-functionalized carboxylate gemini surfactant (N16 -TPE-N16 ). Owing to its unique chemical-structure, surface-activity, pH-sensitivity and fluorescent properties, the designed N16 -TPE-N16 can not only serve as an ingenious "additive" to regulate the construction of SiO2 -NH2 -F in the structure-directing process but also provide anchored fluorophores and chromophores to improve its original photoluminescence. By appropriately tuning the concentration of N16 -TPE-N16, shape-controlled fluorescent silica nanoparticles (AIE-SNs-F) can be prepared directly, producing three different types of silica nanorods (AIE-300-F, AIE-400-F and AIE-600-F). In particular, the incorporated N16 -TPE-N16 will further endow the AIE-SNs-F with enhanced fluorescence intensity, especially for longer wavelength bands (up to 3.7-fold), accompanied by improved sensitivity to acidic pH and temperature. The developed AIE-SNs-F integrates two kinds of AIE characteristics into a single system, opening up a new avenue for the controllable fabrication of multifunctional fluorescent nanomaterials.