Crosstalk‐Free Patterning of Cooperative‐Thermoresponse Images by the Synergy of the AIEgen with the Liquid Crystal

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 59; no. 25; pp. 10066 - 10072
• Main Authors: Zhao, Ye, Zhao, Xiaoyu, Li, Ming‐De, Li, Zhong'an, Peng, Haiyan, Xie, Xiaolin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 15-06-2020
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: aggregation-induced emission; anti-counterfeiting; Crosstalk; Energy transfer; Fluorescence; Image contrast; Liquid crystals; Phase transitions; photochemistry; S phase; Security; stimuli-responsiveness; aggregation-induced emission; anti-counterfeiting; liquid crystals; stimuli-responsiveness; photochemistry
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201915053

Patterning multiple images within a single element without crosstalk can significantly increase the information capacity and security, but it is challenging to enable the response capability in each image. Now, the patterning of crosstalk‐free yet cooperative‐thermoresponse images (holographic and fluorescent images) is successfully achieved by designing a liquid crystal (LC)/AIEgen system with a unique synergy. The AIEgen's fluorescence intensity is controlled by the LC, while the LC's phase transition is in turn promoted by the AIEgen. The fluorescent image contrast is significantly boosted by efficient energy transfer (ΦET: 96 %) from the LC to the AIEgen. The AIEgen's photocyclization for fluorescent patterning occurs in a zero‐order kinetic manner and can be completed within several minutes when assisted by the LC. The photocyclization conversion is quantitatively dependent on the aggregation size: α∼exp(‐d), and able to reach as high as 98 %.
Cooperation without talking: An AIEgen/liquid crystal (LC) system with unique synergistic interactions was designed to pattern noninterference images (holographic and fluorescent) with unprecedented cooperative thermoresponse. The AIEgen's fluorescence intensity is controlled by the LC, while the LC's phase transition is in turn promoted by the AIEgen.