In the presence or absence of water, a Schiff-base compound, 4-amino-3-(2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione (HATT), forms different crystalline states (HATT, HATT·2H2O, and a lamellar structure, m-HATT·nH2O), which show different luminescence emission properties. Herein, we investigate the emission of HATT and the role of water molecules. A water molecule, which acts as both a hydrogen-bond acceptor and -donor, enlarges the distance between adjacent HATT molecules and hinders non-radiative decay pathways.
Keywords: Schiff bases; cocrystals; luminescence; self-assembly; water.
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