Fast photostimulus-responsive ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence behaviour of benzoic acid derivatives@boric acid

Abstract

Ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence materials with photostimulus-responsive (named URTP-PSR) behaviour are amazing but still rarely reported due to their great limitations in the crystal structure, complicated synthesis process, slow photo-activation and deactivation. Herein, a series of URTP-PSR materials, named BADs@BA, were prepared by a facile doping process, which involved one-pot heat treatment of benzoic acid derivatives and boric acid. The BADs@BA displayed gradually enhanced ultralong phosphorescence upon prolonged deep UV light irradiation under ambient conditions. The photo-activation and deactivation process could be finished within several seconds, which was much faster than those of the previously reported URTP-PSR materials. The optical process could be repeated many times without losing performance, suggesting excellent fatigue resistance behaviours of the BADs@BA. Owing to their high processability and URTP-PSR behaviour, the BADs@BA can be utilized for anti-counterfeiting pattern applications. It is worth mentioning that all of the raw materials are commercialized and of low-cost, and could be purchased directly, which is of benefit for practical applications. These findings could break through many limitations of existing dynamic RTP materials and expand the scope of dynamic smart-response materials for great potential in many fields.