Controlling photochromism between fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/polyaniline and N,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine nanocomposites induced by UV-light-responsive titanium oxide nanoparticles

Colloidal stable fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanesulfonic acid oligomer [RF-(MES)n-RF]/polyaniline[PAn]/TiO2 nanocomposites and RF-(MES)n-RF/An-dimer (An-dimer: N,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine)/TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared by the interactions of TiO2 nanoparticles with RF-(MES)n-RF/PAn nanocomposites or RF-(MES)n-RF/An-dimer nanocomposites, which were prepared by the composite reaction of RF-(MES)n-RF oligomer with PAn or An-dimer. These two types of fluorinated TiO2 nanocomposites can exhibit quite different photochromic behaviors: RF-(MES)n-RF/PAn/TiO2 nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible wavelength change for polaron absorptions around 760–820 nm by alternation of UV irradiation and storage in the dark; in contrast, RF-(MES)n-RF/An-dimer/TiO2 nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible color change from blue to colorless (a reversible absorbance change) by the similar treatment.

Graphical abstractControlling photochromic behaviors between RF-(MES)n-RF/PAn nanocomposites and RF-(MES)n-RF/An-dimer nanocomposites induced by UV-light-responsive titanium oxide nanoparticles were observed; RF-(MES)n-RF/PAn nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible wavelength change by alternation of UV irradiation and storage in the dark; in contrast, RF-(MES)n-RF/An-dimer nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible color change from blue to colorless (reversible absorbance change) by a similar treatment.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (69 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Fluorinated oligomer. ► Titanium oxide nanocomposite. ► Polyaniline. ► Phenyl-capped aniline dimer. ► Photochromism.