Luminescent Thermochromic Silver Iodides as Wavelength-Dependent Thermometers.

Luminescent thermochromic materials with a dramatic shift of emission band under different temperatures are highly desirable in temperature sensing fields. However, the design of the synthesis of such compounds remains a great challenge. In this work, two new luminescent thermochromic silver iodides, (emIm)AgI () and (emIm)AgI () (emIm = 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazole), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compound features a [AgI] anionic layer, while compound possesses an infinite [AgI] chain structure, both of which are charge balanced by emIm cations. Particularly, they display luminescent thermochromism with a significant wavelength shift of emission maximum with temperature change. They represent rare examples of infinite layered or chain silver iodides that show luminescent thermochromism. Furthermore, the results indicate that compounds and are promising wavelength-dependent luminescent thermometers.