title: Phase-tunable fluorophores based upon benzobis(imidazolium) salts.
abstract: A new series of highly photoluminescent benzobis(imidazolium) salts with tunable electronic and physical properties is described. Systematic structural manipulations provided a set of materials that were not only fluorescent in the condensed state but also displayed tunable glass transition temperatures ranging from -0.3 to 113 degrees C. Upon heating, these robust materials flowed while maintaining their emissive properties. Further phase tuning was demonstrated through the synthesis of two thermotropic liquid-crystalline fluorescent benzobis(imidazolium) salts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boydston
authors.forename: Cory S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pecinovsky
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bielawski