Smart molecular butterfly: an ultra-sensitive and range-tunable ratiometric thermometer based on dihydrophenazines

Abstract

Ultra-sensitive and range-tunable ratiometric thermometers were developed by controlling the excited-state configuration transformation of a dihydrophenazine derivative via aggregation and disaggregation.

Diversified Excited‐State Relaxation Pathways of Donor–Linker–Acceptor Dyads Controlled by a Bent‐to‐Planar Motion of the Donor

“…[1] The C8p molecules often adopt a bent structure in the ground state (S 0 ), but can become planar in the lowest-lying electronically excited state (S 1 ) due to the cyclically conjugated 4np central ring (Figure 1 a,b), fulfilling the requirements for excited-state aromaticity. [2] As an emerging class of opto-functional materials, [3] C8p molecules have been utilized in the field of thermometers, [4] viscometers, [5] differential sensing, [3c] and photo responsive liquid crystals. [6] Aiming for extending the fundamental and application scope of C8p molecules, it is thus demanding to take a further in-depth insight into the role of bent-to-planar process among various competitive excited-state relaxation and/or reaction pathways.…”

Preparation and Applications of Carbon‐Based Fluorescent Nanothermometers

“…Nevertheless, as the temperature rises, the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the most temperature‐sensitive carbon‐based materials changes, enabling temperature detection. [ 23–25,79–99 ] In general, the temperature‐response mechanism of carbon‐based fluorescent materials mainly consists of the change in surface states and molecular states, thermally activated nonradiative trapping, spectral shift, and broadening of the zero‐phonon line (ZPL). [ 5–18 ]…”

“…In recent years, fluorescent carbon‐based materials, represented by fluorescent NDs, fluorescent GQDs, fluorescent P‐dots, and fluorescent CDs, have been extensively investigated for the temperature measurement of cells and other living and nonliving organisms. [ 79–98 ] Based on the different fluorescence characteristics, the carbon‐based thermometers can be classified into two types: single‐wavelength fluorescent carbon‐based thermometers and dual‐wavelength fluorescent carbon‐based thermometers.…”

“…They show the following advantages: high optical absorptivity, adjustable fluorescent emission, chemical stability, well biocompatibility, and low toxicity. [ 5–99 ] Given these superior properties, they have been extensively discussed in bioimaging devices, biosensors, catalysts, photovoltaic devices, as well as fluorescent nanothermometers for spatially resolved temperature ( Figure ). [ …”

The endeavor of vibration-induced emission (VIE) for dynamic emissions

“…8a ). 106 Its excited bent-to-planar process could be tuned via temperature-induced aggregation and disaggregation. Based on the different solubilities of DPC in ethanol/glycerol mixed solvents at different temperatures and glycerol fractions, the degree of aggregation could be controlled.…”