Excitation-light-induced phosphorescent color changes of β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

•2,3′-Biimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2′-ones.•A new class of phosphorescent β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes was obtained.•Near-white phosphorescence was achieved by forming inclusion complex.•Inclusion complexes exhibit excitation-light-induced phosphorescent color changes.

Color tuning of organic materials is attractive field for both fundamental research and practical application. We report herein two new supramolecular materials based on β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex samples with partially included organic guests, which emit dark-blue and near-white phosphorescence (excitation at 365 nm), and exhibit higher phosphorescent quantum yields (9.2–12.4%). However, purely organic molecules themselves emit green-yellow or blue phosphorescence, and possess low phosphorescent quantum yields (1.4–3.5%). The inclusion complex samples with partially included organic guests also exhibit phosphorescent color tunability which can emit dark-blue, blue, near-white or green light, when stimulated with different excitation lights. Such excitation-light-induced supramolecular phosphorescent materials are promising candidates for potential applications in the organic electronics and dynamically photofunctional materials.

Graphical abstractThe β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex samples exhibit unusual excitation-light-induced phosphorescent color changes which can emit dark-blue, blue, near-white or green light, when stimulated with different excitation lights.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (258 K)Download as PowerPoint slide