Optically Switchable Luminescent Hydrogel by Synergistically Intercalating Photochromic Molecular Rotor into Inorganic Clay

Photomodulated luminescent hydrogels are of great potential for construction of functional soft materials. Herein a simple yet effective approach, by synergistically intercalating the dithienylethene-bridged bispyridinium dye into the inorganic clay of Laponite, is proposed to immobilize the dye's molecular conformation and then to activate the hydrogel's fluorescence emission. The incorporation with dithienylethene unit can not only increase the pi-conjugation of organic dye but also endow the obtained supramolecular hydrogel with desirable photoswitchable capability. It can be envisioned that this organic-inorganic hybrid hydrogel featuring reversible luminescence switching behavior, high water content, good transparency, and mouldability may offer a practical strategy to create more advanced intelligent materials.