A novel multi-stimuli responsive fluorescence liquid crystal material with aggregation-induced emission effect

ABSTRACTABSTRACTScientists are faced with a formidable problem in improving the smart properties of multi-stimuli responsive fluorescent materials. Here, we integrated two kinds of stimuli-responsive materials: aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and liquid crystals (LCs) into one system. An AIE-active fluorescence liquid crystal compound of α-cyanodistyrene derivate Py-CN-LBM8 was synthesised using knoevenagel condensation reaction. Its AIE effect, LC behaviour, multi-stimuli responsive properties and mechanisms were investigated by polarised optical microscopes (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The results showed that Py-CN-LBM8 exhibited significant physical response to external stimuli including temperature, mechanical force, solvent, pH and trace water. This work provided a strategy for designing new multi-stimuli responsive materials and made it possible to apply in the multifunction anti-counterfeit, sensor and information storage fields.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTKEYWORDS: Multi-stimuli responsive fluorescence materialaggregation-induced emission (AIE)liquid crystalsanti-counterfeitsensor Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementThe authors confirm that data supporting of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.Credit authorship contribution statementXiaojing Wu: Investigation, Carried out all experiments, Data curation. Xiaoling Niu: Writing-original draft, Organised the whole project. Shengbo Zhu: Methodology, Software, Inspired the ideas. Min Tian: Supported the theoretical calculations. Weiguo Liu: Writing – review and editing, Supervision.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the the National Natural Science Foundation of China Nos. 61704133.