Isomer Selective Thermosalience and Luminescence Switching in Organic Crystals

Organic crystals that respond to
external stimuli are interesting
for the design of smart materials. Here, we show that molecular engineering
can transform simple naphthalidenimine–boron complexesknown
for their exciting photophysical propertiesinto functional
materials that exhibit thermosalience and thermal-luminescence switching.
Detailed crystallographic and spectroscopic investigations revealed
the role of subtle molecular parameters in deciphering charge-transfer
interactions, which in turn imparted dynamic properties to the crystals.
The simultaneous observation of thermally induced jumping and luminescence
switching makes these crystals ideal for optoelectronic applications.