Viologen-derived material showing photochromic, visually oxygen responsive, and photomodulated luminescence behaviors

The synthesis of photochromic functional materials with excellent performances is important owing to their workable applications. In this study, a new viologen-derived Zn(ii) material with a two-dimensional layered structure, namely {[Zn(L)(cpbpy)](H2O)(3)}(n) (1; H2L = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid; cpbpy = N-(3-carboxypyridin-5-yl)-4,4 '-bipyridinium), was fabricated based on a new mono-substituted viologen derivative via a solvothermal synthesis. Similar to materials containing viologens, 1 displayed a photochromic behavior upon xenon light irradiation. Interestingly, its dehydrated product 1a exhibited a rapid photochromism only under vacuum or an inert atmosphere, which makes 1a a potential O-2 sensitive material. Further investigations show that 1 and 1a had remarkably different photomodulated luminescence behaviors. This study widens the application of such a viologen derivative towards constructing new photochromic materials having a rapid photochromic response.

Automated summary

A new viologen-derived Zn(ii) material with a two-dimensional layered structure was synthesized in this study, exhibiting photochromic behavior and serving as a potential O-2 sensitive material in its dehydrated form. Further investigations revealed significantly different photomodulated luminescence behaviors between the original material and its dehydrated product 1a. This study expands the application of viologen derivatives in constructing new photochromic materials with rapid photochromic response.