Tuning photoswitchable dual-color fluorescence from core-shell polymer nanoparticles

Abstract

Core-shell polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) containing photoswitchable spiropyrans (SP) and spirooxazines (SO) within the cores were fabricated. Fluorescence photoswitching studies revealed that the substituent groups on the photochromic SP/SO structures exerted significant influence on the fluorescence photoswitching behaviors of the as-prepared polymeric NPs, such as the reversibly interchangeable fluorescence color and the photoswitching kinetics. The electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing abilities of the substituent groups are believed to play important roles in controlling the electron configuration of the photochromic component and therefore be responsible for the tunable dual-color photoswitching performance. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.