Quantifiable stretching-induced fluorescence shifts of an elastically bendable and plastically twistable organic crystal

Qi, Di; Li, Jiaqi; Zhang, Zhanrui; Yu, Xu; Tang, Baolei; Zhang, Houyu

doi:10.1039/d1sc03818d

Cited by 43 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…These materials display multidynamic responsiveness following concentration changes, two chemical triggers, as well as light irradiation, all of which enable their controlled degradation with concomitant changes in spectroscopic (fluorescence and CD) outputs. Given the adaptive structure–function relationships of these DCNs, a future direction of investigation will be to explore their potential in bioapplications (capitalizing on a disassembly of the DCNs promoted by intracellular glutathione) or in sensing (for instance the organization and fluorescence output may respond to mechanical stress − ) applications. Finally, the simplicity of our one-pot procedure that rely on a covalent self-assembly without external reagents or catalysts and the straightforward possibility to append additional functional groups at the N-terminus of the peptide building blocks are strong advantages for future investigations toward smart stimuli-responsive soft materials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hierarchical Self-Assembly and Multidynamic Responsiveness of Fluorescent Dynamic Covalent Networks Forming Organogels

et al. 2021

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Smart stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials are of interest in the context of sensing and imaging applications. In this project, we elaborated multi-dynamic fluorescent materials made of a tetraphenylethene fluorophore displaying aggregation-induced emission and short cysteine-rich C-hydrazide peptides. Specifically, we show that a hierarchical dynamic covalent self-assembly process, combining disulphide and acyl-hydrazone bonds formation operating simultaneously in a one-pot reaction, yields cage compounds at low concentration (2 mM) while soluble fluorescent dynamic covalent networks and even chemically cross-linked fluorescent organogels are formed at higher concentrations. The number of cysteine residues in the peptide sequence impacts directly the mechanical properties of the resulting organogels, Young moduli varying 2500-fold across the series. Those materials underpinned by a nanofibrillar network display multi-dynamic responsiveness following concentration changes, chemical triggers, as well as light irradiation, all of which enable their controlled degradation with concomitant changes in spectroscopic outputs -self-assembly enhancing fluorescence emission by ca. 100-fold and disassembly quenching fluorescence emission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hierarchical Self-Assembly and Multidynamic Responsiveness of Fluorescent Dynamic Covalent Networks Forming Organogels

et al. 2021

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“…The small-molecule organic compounds were prepared according to literature methods (for details, see Supporting Information). [27,28,30] Long needle-like crystals of centimeter length were obtained by diffusion (Figure S1, Supporting Information). The crystals are elastic and can be bent repeatedly into an almost circular shape without disintegration (Figure 1c).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[16] Organic molecular crystals are an emerging class of engineering materials that have recently revealed extraordinary and potentially very useful mechanical properties such as elasticity and plasticity. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] It has already been demonstrated that some flexible organic single crystals maintain their elasticity in a low-temperature environment. [22,23,27] These results indicate that strengthening of π•••π interactions, relatively isotropic contraction of the unit cell, and conservation of the abundant weak interactions are some of the factors that could contribute to the retention of flexibility of organic crystals at low temperatures.…”

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confidence: 99%

Organic Single‐Crystal Actuators and Waveguides that Operate at Low Temperatures

Lan

et al. 2022

Advanced Materials

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The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202200471.Applications in extreme conditions, such as those encountered in space exploration, require lightweight materials that can retain their elasticity in extremely cold environments. However, cryogenic treatment of most soft polymeric and elastomeric materials results in complete loss of their ability for elastic flow, whereby such materials that are normally ductile become stiff, brittle, and prone to cracking. Here, a facile method for preparation of hybrid organic crystalline materials that are not only cryogenically robust but are also capable of large, recoverable, and reversible deformation at low temperatures is reported. To that end, flexible organic crystals are first mechanically reinforced by a polymer coating and combined with a thermally responsive polymer. The resulting hybrid materials respond linearly and reversibly to temperatures from −15 to −120 °C without fatigue in air as well as in cold vacuum. The approach proposed here not only circumvents one of the main drawbacks that are inherent to the amorphous nature and has thus far limited the applications of polymeric materials at low temperatures, but it also provides a cost-effective access to a myriad of lightweight sensing, electronic, optical or actuating devices that can operate in low-temperature environmental settings.

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“…Organic single crystals hold prospects for optoelectronic devices, and they are specifically being considered as alternative materials for light-emitting diodes, optical waveguides, organic solid-state lasers, and other organic emissive or transducing materials. − However, organic crystals are normally brittle and lack processability, which currently limits their implementation. Over the past two decades, this aspect has inspired exploration into organic crystals with mechanical properties such as plasticity and elasticity. − In 2006, plastic deformation of large organic crystals of 2-(methylthio)nicotinic acid having a structure with an anisotropic molecular arrangement was reported . Later, slender organic crystals were shown to be elastic when subjected to stress .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Packing-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Schiff Base Crystals

Lan

et al. 2022

Crystal Growth & Design

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Flexible luminescent crystals endowed with mechanical compliance are emerging as materials that could be the foundation of future lightweight single-crystal flexible optoelectronics. Multiple mechanical responses (for example, elastic and plastic deformation) are rarely observed with the same material among the reported examples of such materials. Here, we report a Schiff base, (Z)-3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-(((E)-2-hydroxy-5methoxybenzylidene)amino)phenyl)acrylonitrile, which crystallizes as two polymorphs and one tetrahydrofuran solvate. All three forms are emissive, but they have different mechanical properties. Specifically, two of the forms that are unsolvated polymorphs (denoted A and B) were found to be brittle and plastic, respectively, while the third form, which is a solvate (denoted C), showed excellent elasticity. Notably, form C becomes plastic after the crystal is desolvated. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and mechanical testing were performed to obtain better insight into the root-cause for the observed difference in mechanical properties. Since crystals of forms B and C are mechanically compliant as well as optically transparent, they were tested as flexible single-crystal optical waveguides.

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Quantifiable stretching-induced fluorescence shifts of an elastically bendable and plastically twistable organic crystal

Abstract: We present a flexible crystal capable of elastic bending and plastic twisting, and this crystal can undergo fluorescence blue shift induced by tensile force.

Cited by 43 publications

References 54 publications

Hierarchical Self-Assembly and Multidynamic Responsiveness of Fluorescent Dynamic Covalent Networks Forming Organogels

Hierarchical Self-Assembly and Multidynamic Responsiveness of Fluorescent Dynamic Covalent Networks Forming Organogels

Organic Single‐Crystal Actuators and Waveguides that Operate at Low Temperatures

Packing-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Schiff Base Crystals

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