π-Bridge dependent efficient aggregation-induced emission characteristic and significant mechanofluorochromic behavior

Two novel luminophores both with triphenylamine donor and diaminomaleonitrile acceptor but with differing phenyl (TAPD) and thiophene (TATD) π-bridges were designed and synthesized. The effect of the π-bridge on fluorescent properties, such as aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and mechanofluorochromism (MFC) was investigated. In comparison with TATD, the phenyl bridge-based TAPD exhibits typical AIE phenomenon and excellent reversible MFC behaviors. The efficient emission and remarkable MFC performance in the solid state of TAPD result in its potential application in the fields of light-emitting devices (LEDs) and rewritable information storage media.