Two Organic–Inorganic Manganese(II) Halide Hybrids Showing Compelling Photo- and Mechanoluminescence as well as Rewritable Anticounterfeiting Printing

Two organic–inorganic manganese(II) halide hybrids (OIMHs) with formulas of [(TEA)(TMA)]MnCl4 (1) and [(TPA)(TMA)3](MnCl4)2 (2) (TEA = tetraethylammonium, TMA = tetramethylammonium, and TPA = tetrapropylammonium) were synthesized by a mixed-ligand strategy. Both compounds crystallize in the acentric space group and are composed of isolated [MnCl4]2– tetrahedral units separated by two types of organic cations. They show high thermal stability and emit strong green light with different emission bandwidths, quantum yields, and high-temperature photostability. Remarkably, the quantum yield of 1 can reach up to 99%. Due to the high thermal stability and quantum yield of 1 and 2, green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated. Furthermore, mechanoluminescence (ML) was observed in 1 and 2 when stress was applied. The ML spectrum of 1 is similar to the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, suggesting ML and PL emissions come from the same transition of Mn(II) ions. Finally, rewritable anticounterfeiting printing and information storage were achieved by utilizing the outstanding photophysical properties and ionic features of the products. The printed images still remain clear after several cycles, and the information stored on the paper can be read out by a UV lamp and commercial mobile phones.