Vis–NIR Electrochromism and NIR–Green Electroluminochromism in Dual Functional Benzothiadiazole-Arylamine Mixed-Valence Compounds

Electrochromism/electrofluorochromism is the reversible tuning of the absorption/photoluminescence by redox processes. Dual functional electrochromic/electrofluorochromic materials can be exploited in, for example, smart windows, encryption/anticounterfeiting technologies, displays, and biomedical sensors. While electrofluorochromic materials showing tunable fluorescence intensity are relatively widespread, those with tunable color emission are not. Moreover, electrofluorochromic materials with tunable emission in the near-infrared (NIR) range are seldom encountered. Here, this work shows a new molecular approach to afford both the above functionalities, in addition to red–NIR electrochromism, by combining the properties of highly stable arylamine radical cation mixed valence species, with those of donor–acceptor systems exhibiting the photoinduced twisted intramolecular charge transfer mechanism.