Multi-stimuli-responsive fluorescent switching properties of anthracene-substituted acylhydrazone derivative

Anthracene-substituted acylhydrazone derivative (AHP-T8) exhibits multi-stimuli-responsive fluorescence switching behaviors. The AHP-T8 exhibits mechanofluorochromism in that grinding and heating could change the emission colors. The transformation of crystalline features and amorphous state between the xerogel and ground states might be attributed to the mechanochromic luminescence properties. Protonation-deprotonation has a significant effect on the frontier molecular orbitals, resulting in AHP-T8 exhibiting remarkable and reversible acid/base stimulated fluorescence switching properties in both organogel and solid state. The multi stimuli responsive fluorescence properties reveal that AHP-T8 may be a potential candidate for applications in sensing, security label and a fluorescence indicator for acids/bases.