Polymorphism and reversible mechanochromic luminescence for solid-state difluoroboron avobenzone.

Difluoroboron avobenzone (BF(2)AVB), a simple boron complex of a commercial sunscreen product, exhibits morphology-dependent emission and mechanochromic luminescence in the solid state. When scratched, smeared, or even gently touched, the emission color of BF(2)AVB films is significantly red-shifted under UV excitation. In the rubbed regions, the fluorescence recovers slowly at room temperature or much faster with heating, resulting in a simple rewritable "scratch the surface" ink of potential commercial use.