Preparation of Aqueous Solutions with Information on Solids (ASIS) of a Mechanochromic Luminescent Tetraphenylethylene Derivative by Complexation with Polysaccharides

The emission wavelengths of mechanochromic luminescent (ML) materials differ in the solid state based on molecular packing, whereas they exhibit one homogenized emission wavelength when dispersed in a solvent. Using a top-down approach, we developed a method that can maintain the solid state properties of ML materials in aqueous solutions. We confirmed that the crystallographic information on a tetraphenylethylene derivative with mechanochromic luminescence in the solid state was preserved in aqueous solutions via complexation with polysaccharides. The aqueous solutions of the complexes were stable for over 1 week.

Automated summary

The study reveals that the solid-state properties of mechanochromic luminescent materials can be maintained in aqueous solutions through complexation with polysaccharides, resulting in stable complexes for over 1 week.