Construction of a viologen-derived 2D material with photochromism, photoswitchable luminescence and inkless and erasable prints via sunlight irradiation. Issue 36 (20th August 2021) - Li, Zhao-Hao
Abstract : A Zn(ii ) material based on thiophenedicarboxylate and viologen derivative mixed ligands is synthesized. Thanks to pyridinium unit embedded in its structure, the material exhibits a rapid photochromic response via sunlight irradiation. Abstract : Utilizing the energy of sunlight is an attractive green prospect and thus extending the photoinduced energy to the visible spectrum is of great significance to the better utilization of solar energy in the research of photochromic materials. In this work, a viologen-derived Zn(ii ) material with the molecular formula [Zn(tdc)(cpbpy)] n (1 ) has been synthesized by using 2, 5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid (H2 tdc) and N -(3-carboxypyridin-5-yl)-4, 4′-bipyridinium (cpbpy) ligands under solvothermal conditions. Compound 1 features a 2-fold interpenetrating 2D structure, exhibiting photochromic properties upon sunlight or visible-light irradiation via radical formation. Meanwhile, solid-state luminescence behaviors of 1 could be reversibly modulated during the photochromic process. Importantly, the compound shows its potential application as an inkless and erasable print medium via sunlight irradiation.