Revealing Internal Heavy Chalcogen Atom Effect on the Photophysics of Dibenzo[a,j]phenazine-Cored Donor–Acceptor–Donor Triad

A new twisted donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) multi-photofunctional organic molecule comprising of phenoselenazine as the electron-donors (Ds) and dibenzo[a,j]phenazine (DBPHZ) as the electron-acceptor (A) has been developed. The developed selenium-incorporated D–A–D compound is featured with multi-color polymorphism, distinct mechanochromic luminescence, chemically-stimulated luminochromism, thermally-activated delayed fluorescence, and room- temperature phosphorescence. The internal heavy atom effect on the photophysical properties of the D–A–D system has been investigated through the comparison with the physicochemical properties of a previously developed sulfur analogue and a tellurium analogue.