Near-IR two-photon absorption photostabilizers for polymers intensified by molecular assembly in mixed organic solvents/H2O

Abstract

This study reported on a variety of target phenanthridine dyes carrying hydroxy groups that were employed as near-IR two-photon absorption (TPA) photostabilizers for polymers. It was demonstrated that the target phenanthridine dyes underwent reversible excited state proton transfer (ESPT) in strong polar protic and aprotic solvents, such as ethanol, which was more remarkable under near-IR two-photon excitation. It was determined that the target dyes processed regular molecular stacking in mixed organic solvents/H2O solvents (such as ethanol/H2O, 90% water volume). The orderly molecular aggregation of the target phenanthridine dyes intensified the reversible ESPT emission under one-photon and near-IR two-photon excitation, respectively. Hence, the absorbed energy was consumed by the reversible ESPT process of the target dyes. As a consequence, the target dyes were evaluated as near-IR TPA photostabilizers for polymers. In contrast, the reference phenanthridine dyes lacking of hydroxy groups did not exhibit ESPT or photostability under light irradiation.