Developing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active highly visible fluorescent dyes is of great importance because of its numerous applications. We have successfully developed and synthesized two novel napthalimide based molecules PU1 and PU2, that exhibit bright greenish yellow in day light and vivid green emission when exposed to UV light. Compounds PU1 and PU2 exhibit variable emission behavior at different solvent polarities. Upon raising the solvent polarity from ether to DMF, emission maxima of PU1 and PU2 underwent a bathochromic shift. Additionally, compounds PU1 and PU2 show signs of AIE, which cause a restriction in intramolecular mobility. A distinct self-assembled structure was generated at 30 % aqueous DMF solution following aggregation, as demonstrated by experiments using dynamic light scattering and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Compounds PU1 and PU2 have been blended with poly(urethane) to develop a polymeric film. Tensile strain studies, and TGA, DSC analyses were used to examine the thermal/mechanical stability of PU films. The photostability of PU1 and PU2 in both solution and polymeric film was examined using a 5-h UV-beam irradiation. Furthermore, in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, the blended polymeric film and 365 nm LED light coated material exhibits distinct colorimetric and fluorimetric transformations. Finally, laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) pattern processing on PU1 coated substrates can be extended for optical applications.
Three carbazole Schiff base derived hexacatenar liquid crystals (LCs) L/n (n = 12, 14, 16) composed of salicylaldimines as the central core with N-trialkoxylbenzyl carbazole capped at one side and trialkoxybenzoate capped at the other side have been synthesized. The BF2 complex of L/12 was also successfully prepared. Both carbazole Schiff bases L/n and BF2 complex L-BF2/12 can self-assemble into luminescent Colsqu/p4mm LC phases with local helical structures in their bulk states. L/n can additionally self-assemble into luminescent organogels with winkled morphologies. Study on the photophysical property indicates that both L/12 and its BF2 complex L-BF2/12 show large Stokes shift with yellow greenish emission. L/12 shows AIEE effect and can be applied as turn on Al3+ chemical sensors. BF2 complex L-BF2/12 with stronger emission than L/12 has been used to generate a white light emission diode (WLED).