Fulgide Derivative-Based Solid-State Reversible Fluorescent Switches for Advanced Optical Memory

Solid-state fluorescent switches with reversible luminescence characteristics have attracted considerable attention because of their broad applications in advanced photonics,such as anticounterfeiting inks,optical writing and erasing,and biological imaging.Herein,we have fabricated a solid-state reversible fluorescent switch under alternating UV(365 nm)and visible light treatments based on a fulgide(FUL)-functionalized tetraphenylethylene(TPE)derivative(TPE-FUL)containing a photochromic group FUL and aggregation-induced emission(AIE)luminogen TPE.TPE-FUL exhibited excellent reversible absorption and luminescence owing to the interconversion between open TPE-FUL(O-TPE-FUL)and closed TPE-FUL(C-TPE-FUL).Photophysical and theoretical investigations revealed that the luminescence of O-TPE-FUL is based on the local excited state of the TPE moiety,whereas the fluorescence quenching of C-TPE-FUL originates from the intramolecular charge transfer from the TPE to the FUL moiety.The excellent reversible photoswitching properties of TPE-FUL in the solid state allows for its potential use in advanced optical memory applications,such as anticounterfeiting,optical writing and erasing,and information encryption.