Tunable RGB luminescence of a single molecule with high quantum yields through a rational design

Abstract

Organic smart materials with red, green, and blue emissions are important in fabricating full-color display devices and multi-functional sensors. However, achieving RGB emission with high quantum yields using a single-molecule material has proven to be challenging. In this study, a new stimuli-responsive RGB luminescent organic molecule RHBT-G with a high quantum yield was rationally designed based on the combination of an AIEE luminophore and a fluorescent molecular switch. The ESIPT and TBET mechanisms were introduced to realize the RGB emission with single 365 nm excitation light in a solution and a PMMA film. X-ray single crystal diffraction and UV-Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic analysis were carried out to prove the working mechanism of the dye. The rational design will accelerate the development of stimuli-responsive materials with excellent optical properties.