Iridium complex triggered white-light-emitting gel and its response to cysteine

Phenol substituted 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives acting as a donor and an iridium(iii) complex which emits orange light acting as an acceptor were synthesized to fabricate a novel white-light-emitting two-component gel. The intermolecular energy transfer between the two components plays a crucial role in providing the tuneable emission in the mixed gels. The emission of white light can be obtained by carefully tuning the ratio of the two components. These gels are ideal constituents for the design of supramolecular light-harvesting materials, which afford a novel approach to displaying information in soft materials with tuneable optical properties. Furthermore, the two-component gel can respond to cysteine with an obvious change in luminescence that is visible to the naked eye.