Tunable piezochromic luminescence via isomer control in N,N′-azotriazole energetic molecules

Herein, distinct pressure-dependent emission shifts in N,N′-azotriazole energetic materials are realized through isomer control. 4,4′-azo-1,2,4-triazole exhibits blue-shifted luminescence under compression, and by contrast, 1,1′-azo-1,2,3-triazole exhibits a red-shift. This behavior stems from the different molecular arrangements and dominant interactions present in the isomers, which result in differences in the ways the bandgaps change at high pressure.