A phosphorescent molybdenum octahedral cluster compound is homogeneously associated with organic liquid crystals by means of weak supramolecular interactions up to a doping concentration of 45.8 wt.%. Polarized Optical Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and x-ray scattering experiments demonstrate that such class of new compounds shows a calamitic liquid crystal-like behavior at low temperature, even below 0°C. Photophysical studies reveal a strong emission in the red-NIR with a high oxygen sensitivity. This first of its kind material offers promising perspectives in the field of optoelectronics, sensing, and photonics.
Heinz et al. (Wed,) studied this question.