Issue 9, 2023

New shades of photochromism – yellow sodalites for the detection of blue light

Abstract

The absorption energy of the F-center in photochromic sodalite can be lowered by expanding the unit cell with larger ions, changing the color from pink to blue. Blue-shifting this absorption to produce other colors is not so straightforward. In this work, sodalites of the formula Na2−2xCax(Na,K)6(AlSiO4)6(Cl,S)2 displaying white-to-yellow photochromism have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. Combining spectroscopic experiments and quantum chemical calculations, the formation of a Na2Ca entity inside the sodalite cage surrounding the trapped electron responsible for the yellow color is postulated. Optimal yellow photochromism occurs for 0.13 ≤ x ≤ 0.18, while at x ≥ 0.27 the formation of the by-product davyne begins to affect the structure and optical properties. Finally, the sensitivity of these materials to blue light is shown to make them well-suited as sensors for blue light over-exposure e.g. from computer screens or smart phones.

Graphical abstract: New shades of photochromism – yellow sodalites for the detection of blue light

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jan 2023
Accepted
13 Feb 2023
First published
15 Feb 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 3360-3374

New shades of photochromism – yellow sodalites for the detection of blue light

H. Byron, T. Kreivilä, P. Colinet, T. Le Bahers and M. Lastusaari, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 3360 DOI: 10.1039/D3TC00116D

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