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Issue 46, 2014

Light-driven fluorescence enhancement and self-assembled structural evolution of an azobenzene derivative

Abstract

Producing a fluorescent azobenzene derivative and investigating the relationship between the self-assembled structure and photophysical properties is a challenging topic, which is of significance in material science. Here, we report the light-driven fluorescence enhancement and self-assembled structural characteristics of an azobenzene derivative N-(3,4,5-octanoxyphenyl)-N′-4-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)azophenyl]1,3,4-oxadiazole (AOB-t8). A highly fluorescent self-assembled aggregate of cis-AOB-t8 in organic solution under UV light illumination has been observed; the quantum yield can reach 33.7 × 10−2, which is an enhancement of about 306 times compared with that of trans-AOB-t8, which is negligibly fluorescent in the initial nonirradiated solution. It has been proposed that the fluorescence enhancement originates from the trans-to-cis monomeric isomerization and the aggregation of cis-AOB-t8. Based on the theoretical calculations, we have discussed the mechanism for light-driven fluorescence enhancement of the monomeric cis-AOB-t8, which was commendably applied to interpret the observed spectroscopic result. In addition, the formation of the J-aggregate of cis-AOB-t8 leads to further enhancement of the emission. Moreover, this photocontrolled fluorescence enhancement in a concentrated solution (1 × 10−3 M) could be attributed to the significant structural changes of the aggregates, from fiber-like aggregates to layer structured aggregates. According to the spectroscopy study, it is suggested that the trans-AOB-t8 is inclined to form H-aggregates and the cis-AOB-t8 forms J-aggregates, which could probably lead to the structural variety related to the different molecular conformations of AOB-t8.

Graphical abstract: Light-driven fluorescence enhancement and self-assembled structural evolution of an azobenzene derivative

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jun 2014
Accepted
05 Oct 2014
First published
08 Oct 2014

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9866-9873

Author version available

Light-driven fluorescence enhancement and self-assembled structural evolution of an azobenzene derivative

X. Ran, H. Wang, L. Shi, J. Lou, B. Liu, M. Li and L. Guo, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 9866 DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01301H

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