Redox triggered aggregation induced emission (AIE) polymers with azobenzene pendants

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.dyepig.2018.04.066

We reported the redox triggered aggregation induced emission (AIE) polymers with azobenzene pendants. Tetraphenylethene (TPE) based polymers with selected degrees of functionalization of azobenzene chromophores were synthesized through a post-polymerizati

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.dyepig.2018.04.066

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Redox triggered aggregation induced emission (AIE) polymers with azobenzene
pendants
Bing Wu, Wei Wang, Jilei Wang, Shang Li, Yaning He
PII:
S0143-7208(18)30636-3
10.1016/j.dyepig.2018.04.066
DYPI 6727
DOI:
Reference:
To appear in: Dyes and Pigments
Received Date: 22 March 2018
Revised Date: 15 April 2018
Accepted Date: 30 April 2018
Please cite this article as: Wu B, Wang W, Wang J, Li S, He Y, Redox triggered aggregation induced
emission (AIE) polymers with azobenzene pendants, Dyes and Pigments (2018), doi: 10.1016/
j.dyepig.2018.04.066.
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Graphical abstract
Tetraphenylethene (TPE) based polymers with selected degrees of functionalization of
azobenzene chromophores were synthesized. Due to the fluorescence resonance
energy transfer (FRET) process, the fluorescent states of TPE parts would be well
quenched. By the reduction of azobenzene pendants, the strong fluorescence of the
TPE based polymers would recover again.

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Redox Triggered Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) Polymers
with Azobenzene Pendants
Bing Wu, Wei Wang, Jilei Wang, Shang Li and Yaning He*
Department of Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), Tsinghua
University, Beijing 100084, China
*Corresponding author: Tel. +86 01 62784561
E-mail: heyaning@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
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Abstract
We reported the redox triggered aggregation induced emission (AIE) polymers with
azobenzene pendants. Tetraphenylethene (TPE) based polymers with selected degrees
of functionalization of azobenzene chromophores were synthesized through a
post-polymerization azo-coupling scheme. Due to the fluorescence resonance energy
transfer (FRET) process, the excited energy of the fluorescent TPE parts could be
transferred to the azobenzene chromophores, so that the fluorescent states of TPE
parts would be well quenched. The degrees of functionalization of the azobenzene
chromophores have shown much effect on this FRET process. By the reduction of
azobenzene chromophores upon treatment with hydrazine hydrate, the strong
fluorescence of the TPE based polymers would recover again. Besides in solution, this
redox reaction triggered fluorescence of azobenzene containing polymers could also
be found in their solid films.
22 Keywords: Aggregation induced emission; Azobenzene; Redox triggered;
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Fluorescent polymer; Tetraphenylethene
25 1 Introduction
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In recent years, stimuli -responsive fluorescent materials have attracted much
attention for their potential applications in sensors, optical recording devices and
many others [1-8]. The aggregates of organic fluorophores often suffer from the
aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. However, the fluorescent materials are
generally needed to work in solid or aggregate state. To overcome this disadvantage,
many fluorescent molecules with aggregation induced emission (AIE) characteristics
have been developed [9-12]. Up to date, several stimuli responsive AIE
organic/polymeric materials have also been reported [13-18].
Azobenzene and its derivatives have been well known for the photo-induced
reversible isomerization upon irradiation with light at an appropriate wavelength. Due
to the reversible cis–trans isomerization, azobenzene containing materials have been
extensively investigated for scientific interest and potential applications in various
photonic devices [19-26]. Besides the photochromic properties, the azobenzene
chromophores have been used as the non-fluorescent energy acceptors, which can
eliminate the background fluorescence from direct acceptor excitation [27]. Based on
the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process, the azobenzene quenched
system has been used for proteolysis and nucleic acid hybridization detection [28].
Furthermore, the azobenzene chromophore can be reduced efficiently under reducing
environment, so that FRET process will not take place anymore and the fluorescence
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