Search

We report herein the reversible mechanochromic luminescence property of (dibenzo[a,c]phenazine-9,14-diylbis(4,1-phenylene))dimethanol (DPAC-OH) where the photoluminescene color changes from blue to blue-green upon grinding, which can be restored upon slow solvent evaporation. 9,14-bis(4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl)-9,14-dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine (DPAC-OCH 3) is synthesized as the control sample to further demonstrate the role of hydrogen bonding in DPAC-OH. The vibration-induced emission (VIE) mechanism and the presence of hydrogen bonding interactions are utilized to account for the mechanochromic phenomenon. [Display omitted] • The DPAC-OH exhibited reverible mechanochromic property. • The DPAC-OH is the first to report mechanochromic property in VIE family. • The VIE mechanism and H-bonding are adpoted to explain the property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]