Fluorescent chiral liquid-crystalline networks with dual-mode temperature response

ABSTRACT

Due to the excellent optical properties and great application prospects in the optical field, both pyrene compounds (PCs) and chiral liquid crystal have attracted extensive attention in theoretical research and practical applications. Fluorescent chiral liquid-crystalline networks (FCLCN) with good liquid-crystalline properties and tunable fluorescence properties as a response to temperature were prepared using Poly(methylhydrogeno)siloxane (PMHS), chiral liquid-crystalline monomer (M₁), chiral crosslinker (M₂) and organic fluorescent pyrene compounds (M₃). The as-prepared FCLCN display reversible chiral Grandjean texture during the heating and cooling process from the intrinsic chiral arrangement of FCLCN. The discrete pyrene chromogenic segments in FCLCN matrix endowed the networks with excellent fluorescence properties when irradiating with ultraviolet light and the fluorescence can be precisely adjusted by temperature, furthermore, the FCLCN presents highly sensitive fluorescence evolution with a high response sensitivity of 3.4% K⁻¹. The FCLCN can be manufactured into temperature-driven dynamic fluorescence patterns with a fast and reversible response.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Chiral
• liquid-crystalline
• networks
• fluorescence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [Grant Nos. BK20190157 and BK20180178]. Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China [Grant No. 19KJB430038]. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [Grant Nos. 2019A1515011379].