Single‐Molecule White‐Light‐Emitting Starburst Donor‐Acceptor Triphenylamine Derivatives and Their Application as Ratiometric Luminescent Molecular Thermometers. Issue 44 (25th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ajantha, Joseph; Yuvaraj, Palani; Karuppusamy, Masiyappan; Easwaramoorthi, Shanmugam
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 27:Issue 44(2021)
• Page Start: 11319
• Page End: 11325
• Publication Date: 2021-06-25
• Subjects: luminescent thermometers -- molecular thermometers -- single-component white-light emitter -- triphenylamine -- white light; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100748
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: White‐light emission (WLE) from a single molecule is a highly desirable alternative to a complex mixture of complementary colour emitters, which suffers from poor stability and reproducibility for potential use in organic electronic devices and lighting applications. We report single‐molecule WLE both in solution and thin films by judiciously controlled π‐electron delocalisation between the triarylamine subchromophoric units. Triphenylamine (TPA) forms the central core, and the phenyl rings are substituted with the electron‐deficient acceptor 3‐ethylrhodanine (Rh) and electron‐rich donors triphenylamine or carbazole. The enforced biphenyl configuration of the TPA core and the other donors renders the π‐conjugation across the entire chromophore poor, thus the individual subchromophoric units retain their individual emission characteristics, which cover all three primary colour emissions, that is, red, green and blue (RGB). TPA−Rh units exhibit broad fluorescence in the green‐red region originating from the local excited (LE) state and intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT), strongly influenced by the solvent, water, and temperature. Different fluorescence parameters, including spectral maxima, ratiometric changes in ICT emission at the expense of blue emission from terminal donor units, and changes in lifetime, have a linear relationship with temperature between 180–330 K, thus the molecules can function as a multiparameter luminescent molecular thermometer. A temperature coefficient of 0.19 K −1 in ratiometric fluorescence changes along with a spectral shift of 0.3 nm K −1 and their workability over the wide temperature makes these molecules promising materials for potential applications. At lower temperatures, individual subchromophoric properties subside because of the reduced dihedral angle of biphenyl, and fluorescence from the whole molecule becomes dominant. Abstract : From each his own : As the configuration of the central biphenyl breaks up any π‐conjugation, the triarylamine arms of these simple molecules retain their intrinsic electronic properties. This facilitates fluorescence from the individual subchromophoric units across the entire visible spectrum, generating white light. The excited‐state process can be modulated by external stimuli such as temperature; thus, the compound could be exploited as molecular thermometers.