Aggregation-enhanced emission and piezochromic luminescence of 9,10-bis(p-dibutylaminostyryl)-2,6-bis(p-t-butylstyryl)anthracene

A cruciform 9,10-distyrylanthracene-containing luminogen, 9,10-bis(p-dibutylaminostyryl)-2,6-bis(p-t-butylstyryl)anthracene (DDC), has been synthesized and the optical properties investigated. The results show that DDC is an aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) and piezofluorochromic (PFC) dye. The fluorescence quantum yield in THF/water=1/9 (18.1%) is about 12-fold over that in THF (1.53%). PFC experiment shows that the fluorescence colors (emission spectra) of DDC solid change reversibly between orange-red (602 nm) and red (632 nm) emissions upon pressing and annealing. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric analyses reveal that the grinding has induced the phase transition of DDC solid from pristine crystalline to ground amorphous states, and annealing could cause the re-crystallization of amorphized DDC solid. This transformation between crystalline and amorphous states is responsible for the reversible PFC behavior upon external stimuli.