Molecular rotor design and synthesis
The molecular rotor BTPEQ was synthesized in two steps readily, as shown in Scheme S1. In the first step, thiophen-2-ylboronic acid and 5-bromothiophene-2-carbaldehyde were combined through the Suzuki coupling reaction, and formed as bithiophene. Afterward, the bithiophene and quinolinium were condensed into the final molecular rotor BTPEQ through the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The chemical structure and corresponding mass spectra were presented in Fig. S1-S8. In this study, rationally designing a powerful rotor for viscosity inspection in liquids is desirable, thiophene derivative is acted as the typical electron donor (D) group, quinolinium is displayed as the electron acceptor (A), which are formed into a traditional twisted intramolecular-charge transfer (TICT) system. The thiophene herein can enlarge the conjugation degree in a further step, which may render the emission spectra red-shifting, the background fluorescence signal noise caused by the food additives may be avoided [23]. As exhibited in Scheme 1, we expected that the viscosity sensing capability was constructed on the basis of intramolecular rotation, after absorbing the photon, the conversion between the planar excited state and twisted excited state occurred. It is anticipated that when in low viscous media, the rotor BTPEQ can rotate freely, resulting in a weaker emissive fluorescence signal, due to the rapid consumption of excited energy via the non-radiative pathway. In comparison, the rotation of rotor can be inhibited when in a high viscous media, the energy was consumed in a radiative pathway, stronger fluorescence signal was released [24]. Thus, this rotor BTPEQ may be able to discriminate the viscosity variations through the fluorescence signal.
Optical properties towards viscosity
At first, the optical responsibility of the rotor BTPEQ toward viscosity was investigated. As seen from Fig. 1a, in the emission spectra, the fluorescence signal increased obviously in the glycerol, and weaker fluorescence signal was found in low viscous water. This phenomenon may be attributed to the rotor suppression effect by the higher microscopic viscosity. And the absorption peak was around 461 nm when in low viscous water, whereas the absorption wavelength was slightly red-shifting toward 488 nm in high viscous glycerol. This phenonemon may be attributed to the parallel stacking of molecular rotor in high viscous media, by which the conjugation was enlarged (Fig. 1b) [25]. In detail, as displayed in Fig. 1c and Fig. 1d, the fluorescence intensity was gradually enhanced upon increasing the content of glycerol (volume fraction from 0%-99%). The rotatable parts in the molecular rotor were inhibited to some extent in this procedure, leading to a radiative pathway to consume the excited energy [26]. Moreover, a good linear relationship was found among the logarithmic function of fluorescence intensity (log I648) and viscosity value (log η) by fitting the Förster-Hoffmann equation [27], where R2=0.99, x=0.46. Besides, the Stokes shift in high viscous glycerol and low viscous water were determined as 160 nm and 187 nm respectively, as shown in Fig. 1e and Fig. 1f. In comparation with the developed rotors as listed in Table S1, the Stokes shift is larger enough to avoid the interference of excitation light signal, the signal-to-noise ratio can be enhanced, and better for application.
The viscosity can be affected by temperature, since the viscosity may be enhanced when liquid food stored in lower temperature, whereas higher temperature can cause the viscosity decreased. Subsequently, the fluorescence intensities of glycerol under different temperatures were investigated. As shown in Fig. S9, the fluorescence spectra of the glycerol stored under different temperature were recorded. The fluorescence intensity was found to be increased when the glycerol test system stored in the lower temperature. By contrast, the fluorescence signal became weaker when the glycerol stored under higher temperature. On the other hand, the viscosity was determined by the viscometer as well, and similar result was found. Overall, the results demonstrated the superior viscosity detection capability of the rotor BTPEQ.
Adaptability, selectivity, and photostability
Variety of food related additives are contained in the liquid, and the complex microenvironment is formed. At first, absorption and emission spectra in various solvents with different polarity were studied. Herein, eight kinds of common solvents with different dielectric constant (ε) were selected, such as the toluene, DCM, THF, acetonitrile, DMF, methanol, DMSO, water, glycerol. As shown in Fig. 2a, the absorption peak in glycerol was slightly red-shifting by contrast to other absorption peaks in the low viscous media. This finding may be attributed to the parallel stacking in high viscous microenvironment, leading to the conjugation enlarged [28]. On the other side, as shown in Fig. 2b, strong fluorescence signal was occurred in the high viscous glycerol, whereas, the fluorescence signal was extremely weaker in other solvents. This result may be ascribed to the intramolecular free rotation and consumed the excited energy in non-radiative pathway. Detailed photophysical properties of the rotor BTPEQ in these solvents were collected in Table S2.
Then, the selectivity of rotor BTPEQ to various relevant species were investigated, since multiple additives can enhance the taste, texture, and the nutrition value [29]. Herein, several kinds of representative substrates such as the metal ions, anions, amino acids, etc. were selected. As shown in Fig. 2c and Fig.2d, it can be observed that the fluorescence response signal in various potentially interfering species were exemely weaker, whereas the strong fluorescence signal can be found in the high viscous glycerol. The results suggested that the rotor BTPEQ cannot be interfered by the complex potential additives, the selcctivity was higher.
Afterwards, the photostablity in wide pH range was explored, as shown in Fig. S10. The results indicated that fluorescence signals were relatively stable in the pH range of 3.0-9.0, leading to the feasibility of applications in the complex liquid food conditions. Moreover, the photostability under continuous irradiation for 90 min in various commerical liquids were evaluated, respectively. In Fig. S11, notably, the fluorescence signal intensity remained relatively stable in the test procedure, suggesting the signal releasing procedure cannot be affected by the complex microenvironment under continuous irradiation within a certain time range and confirming its potential applicability in these common liquids. Taken all, the desirable advantages of high adaptability, selectivity and photostability may render the rotor BTPEQ favorable for tracking viscosity variations in complex liquid system.
Thickening effect investigation
For the purpose of enhancing the consistency, homogeneity and texture of liquids, various kinds of food thickeners were applied as the additives quite often [30]. Generally, the viscosity may be enhanced by the thickeners, and thickening effect can be investigated through the fluorescent method. Herein, three kinds of representative thickeners including the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, pectin and xanthan gum were added into the distilled water, various viscous solutions were prepared. As seen from the Fig. 3a-c, the fluorescence signal were gradually enhanced with the addition amounts of thickeners from 1 g/kg to 5 g/kg. The thickening efficiencies can be determined through the fluorescence technique. As shown in Fig. 3d-f, the thickening efficiency among these thickeners were different, and the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and mass concentrations of thickeners were fitted. From the quantitative aspect, the xanthan gum displayed the highest thickening efficiency herein, while the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose showed the lowest. The results integrally confirmed that the viscosity variations caused by food thickeners can be determined with this molecular rotor BTPEQ, effectively.
Deterioration process detection
Generally, fresh beverages are perishable at ease, and food quality and safety are urgent to be guaranteed. Thus, the deterioration process inspection is meaningful. Considering that the viscosity-sensitive capability of rotor BTPEQ, nine kinds of commercial beverages were selected, including the water, rose tea, cranberry tea, mango juice, lemon juice, milk, jasmine tea juice, watermelon juice and edible oil. At the beginning, the viscosity of each beverage was investigated through the fluorescence method. As displayed in Fig. S12, it can be observed the fluorescence intensity of each beverage was completely different. This phenomenon may be ascribed to the different viscosity in each beverage. On the other hand, the viscosities of each beverages were measured by the viscometer, and similar results were found, as seen from Table S3. Thus, we can conclude that the viscosity of liquids can be effectively evaluated by the molecular tool BTPEQ.
Then, the viscosity variations during the spoilage process was determined, since viscosity is a robust marker. In detail, two kinds of commercial liquids (cranberry tea and mango juice) were utilized to proceed the metamorphic process. These liquids were stored under the ambient temperature and lower temperature for 8 days, respectively. As displayed in Fig. 4a, the beverages had become turbid and vague gradually when the beverages were stored under ambient temperature with the time extended, even the floating objects can be found after day 5. However, the situation was relatively better when the liquids were stored under lower storage temperature, as shown in Fig. 4b. The viscosity variations during this metamorphic procedure were determined by the fluorescent technique, and the fluorescence signal increased obviously along with the spoilage extent. The fluorescence intensities increased 12.1% and 10.3%, respectively. However, when these beverages stored at lower temperature, the metamorphic progress become slower, few floating objects can be found. Fluorescence signal increased in a limited range, only 6.0% and 5.8%, respectively. Thus, we can draw a conclusion that lower temperature can prolong the storage time and maintain the freshness to some extent, and the molecular rotor BTPEQ can act as a powerful tool toward viscosity determination.
To consolidate this conclusion, the viscosity in upon liquids were investigated through the viscometer from the quantitative perspective. As seen from Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b, when the beverages stored at ambient temperature, the viscosities of cranberry tea and mango juice increased 23.2% and 21.8%, respectively. On the other hand, the viscosities of these beverages enhanced only 13.3% and 12.6% when stored at the lower storage temperature. The results were consistent with the fluorescence spectra. Notably, a fitting linear relationship can be established between the viscosity increment percentage (ηn-η0)/η0×100% and the fluorescence intensity increment percentage (Fn-F0)/F0×100%, as displayed in Fig. 5c. Thereby, these results collectively manifested that the micro-environmental viscosity variations during the deterioration process can be visualized by the molecular rotor BTPEQ through the fluorescent technique.