This study synthesized dihexylated diammonium (HDI) dyes incorporating various anions and investigated their effects on the near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectral properties. The anions used for HDI were tetrafluoroborate (BF4-), hexafluorophosphate ...
This study synthesized dihexylated diammonium (HDI) dyes incorporating various anions and investigated their effects on the near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectral properties. The anions used for HDI were tetrafluoroborate (BF4-), hexafluorophosphate (PF6-), bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide (TFSI-), and tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (TPFB-). These HDI dyes exhibited negative solvatochromism, shifting absorption to shorter wavelengths in polar solvents. In non-polar solvents, molar extinction coefficients varied with anion size andelectronegativity, increasing in the order BF4- < PF6- < TFSI- < TPFB-. In addition, coated fabric samples were prepared to assess the photothermal effect of the TPFB-based HDI dye. When exposed to a 1064 nm laser (1 W/cm2), surface temperature surged to 220 °C within 3 s, even causing carbonization. These results demonstrate that anion selection significantly influences HDI dye’s optical properties and enables superior NIR photothermal conversion. With low visible-light absorption and high NIR absorption, the HDI dye holds promise forsmart textile applications.