Design, Synthesis, and Electrofluorochromism of New Triphenylamine Derivatives with AIE-Active Pendent Groups

Triphenylamine (TPA) and 4,4'-dimethoxy-triphenylamine (TPAOMe) derivatives were successfully linked with two high-performance AIEgens, triphenylethylene (TPE) and benzo[ b]thiophene-1,1-dioxide (BTO), to obtain four aggregation-induced emission and electro-active materials, TPETPA, BTOTPA, TPETPAOMe, and BTOTPAOMe. The effects on photoluminescence characteristics and electrochromic (EC) and electrofluorochromic (EFC) behaviors in cross-linking gel-type devices derived from the prepared materials were systematically investigated. Furthermore, heptyl viologen was introduced into the EFC devices to enhance EC performance including lower working potential, faster switching time, and superior stability.