Controlling photochromism between fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/polyaniline and N, N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine nanocomposites induced by UV-light-responsive titanium oxide nanoparticles

Controlling photochromic behaviors between R F-(MES) n -R F/ PAn nanocomposites and R F-(MES) n -R F/ An-dimer nanocomposites induced by UV-light-responsive titanium oxide nanoparticles were observed; R F-(MES) n -RF/ PAn nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible wavelength change by alternation of UV irradiation and storage in the dark; in contrast, R F-(MES) n -R F/ An-dimer nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible color change from blue to colorless (reversible absorbance change) by a similar treatment. [Display omitted] ► Fluorinated oligomer. ► Titanium oxide nanocomposite. ► Polyaniline. ► Phenyl-capped aniline dimer. ► Photochromism. Colloidal stable fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanesulfonic acid oligomer [R F-(MES) n -R F]/polyaniline[ PAn]/TiO 2 nanocomposites and R F-(MES) n -R F/ An-dimer ( An-dimer: N, N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine)/TiO 2 nanocomposites were prepared by the interactions of TiO 2 nanoparticles with R F-(MES) n -R F/ PAn nanocomposites or R F-(MES) n -R F/ An-dimer nanocomposites, which were prepared by the composite reaction of R F-(MES) n -R F oligomer with PAn or An-dimer. These two types of fluorinated TiO 2 nanocomposites can exhibit quite different photochromic behaviors: R F-(MES) n -R F/ PAn/TiO 2 nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible wavelength change for polaron absorptions around 760–820 nm by alternation of UV irradiation and storage in the dark; in contrast, R F-(MES) n -R F/ An-dimer/TiO 2 nanocomposites can exhibit a reversible color change from blue to colorless (a reversible absorbance change) by the similar treatment.