Bifunctional Role of Methyl Viologen in UV and X‑ray Sensitive Switchable Organophosphonate Single Crystal

Finding X-ray and UV responsive hybrid single crystals including their versatile properties is highly desirable though the fabrication of such material is a very challenging task to researchers. Herein, a methyl viologen assisted hybrid nickel organophosphonate structure (i.e., NIT1) is demonstrated by adapting an in situ solvothermal strategy to investigate the X-ray effect and photochromic behaviors. The bifunctional coordinated and templated roles of monocationic and bicationic methyl viologen units present in the hybrid structure are noteworthy and can manifest prominent structural enhancement and reversible photochromism behaviors.