Highly sensitive stimuli-responsive multifunctional luminescent
materials are crucial for applications in optical sensing, high-level
security, and anticounterfeiting. Here, we report two zero-dimensional
(0D) hybrid copper(I) halides, (TEP) Cu
Br and (TEP) Cu
Br , which are comprised of isolated
[Cu Br ] and
[Cu Br ]
inorganic cluster units, respectively, separated by TEP
(TEP = tetraethylphosphonium) cations. (TEP)
Cu Br and (TEP)
Cu Br demonstrate
ultrabright greenish-white and orange-red emissions, respectively, with
near unity photoluminescence quantum yields. Optical spectroscopy
measurements and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal
that photoemissions of these compounds originate from the formation of
self-trapped excitons (STEs) due to the excited-state distortions in the
copper(I) halide units. Single crystals of both compounds are
radioluminescence (RL) active at room temperature under both X- and
γ-rays exposure. The excellent energy resolution values and light yields
up to 15,800 ph/MeV under 662 keV γ-rays of Cs
suggest their potential for scintillation applications. Remarkably,
(TEP) Cu Br and
(TEP) Cu Br are
interconvertible through external chemical stimuli or reverse
crystallization. In addition, both compounds demonstrate luminescence
on-off switching upon thermal stimuli. The sensitivity of (TEP)
Cu Br and (TEP)
Cu Br to the
chemical and thermal stimuli coupled with their ultrabright emission
allows their consideration for practical applications such as
solid-state lighting, sensing, information storage, and
anticounterfeiting.