Stimuli-responsive materials, such as thermochromics, have found mass usage and profitability in manufacturing and process control. Imparting charge transfer-based functional supramolecular materials with tunable thermochromism, emerges as an ideal strategy to construct optically responsive multifunctional assemblies. A new series of thermochromic charge transfer-based supramolecular materials assembled in water has been developed. These assemblies are composed of a bis-bipyridinium-derived acceptor and a series of commercially available donors – namely, the neurotransmitter melatonin and its analogue bioisosteres. By tailoring the chemical structure of the donors, the strength of the charge transfer interactions can be tuned. Thermochromic aerogels and inks of these materials are prepared, with a large selection of colors, in environment-friendly solvents and demonstrate tunable thermochromic transition temperatures ranging from 45 to 105 <sup>o</sup>C. Favorable compatibility of these materials with commercial inks and inkjet printers afford excellent pattern quality with extended color options. Mechanistic studies reveal that the two types of water molecules were bound to the supramolecular complexes with different strength, and the more weakly bound water is responsible for the thermochromic transitions.

Multifunctional charge transfer-based supramolecular materials with tunable thermochromism

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.