Issue 31, 2017

Two intensified fluorescence colors’ switching achieved by branched dye nanoaggregates

Abstract

In this study, a variety of branched target dyes containing double internal proton transfer segments were synthesized. For comparison, some linear analogs including a single internal proton transfer part were synthesized. The corresponding reference molecules lacking proton transfer segments were also prepared. The properties and aggregation modes of these dye aggregates were investigated on the basis of scanning electron microscopy images, transmission electron microscopy images, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, UV/visible absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra. The results showed that molecular aggregates with the morphologies of nano-scaled rounded or cubic particles of the target branched dyes could be yielded in mixed organic solvent/H2O solution. A remarkable emission enhancement and fluorescence switching process (from bright yellow to luminous pure blue) under 365 nm lamp irradiation was observed for these target branched dye nanoaggregates. However, no aggregates of the reference branched dyes free of hydroxyl groups were formed and no obvious spectral variations were found. In contrast, all the studied linear dyes yielded molecular nanoaggregates in mixed organic solvent/H2O solution, and only intensified single normal blue fluorescence emission was presented. This study provided real examples of some branched organic dye aggregates which were capable of displaying naked-eye enhanced fluorescence color switching under an UV lamp.

Graphical abstract: Two intensified fluorescence colors’ switching achieved by branched dye nanoaggregates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Mar 2017
Accepted
16 Jul 2017
First published
19 Jul 2017

Nanoscale, 2017,9, 11158-11169

Two intensified fluorescence colors’ switching achieved by branched dye nanoaggregates

G. Ding, Y. Lu, J. Su, X. Qin, Z. Luo, F. Gao, L. Chen and H. Li, Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 11158 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR02169K

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