Stimuli-responsive chromism in organophosphorus chemistry.

Changes in color are one of the most obvious and easily followed responses that can be induced by an external stimulus. π-Conjugated organophosphorus compounds are on the rise to challenge established systems by opening up new and simple pathways to diversely modified optoelectronic properties--the main challenge for the development of new chromic materials. Relevant stimuli highlighted in this Frontier article include electronic current (electrochromism), light (photochromism), solvent polarity (solvatochromism), aggregation formation (aggregation induced emission, AIE), mechanical force (mechanochromism), temperature (thermochromism), organic solvent vapor (vapochromism), and pH (halochromism).