Temperature-driven molecular dynamics initiate thermochromism and luminescence modulation in an anthracene-based organic semiconductor crystal

Crystals of 10-bis(( E )-2-(pyridin-4-yl)vinyl)anthracene (BP4VA) show heat-induced chromism and luminescence. Structural changes are described using variable-temperature synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and molecular modeling.