Fig. 1. Structural characterizations of ZCGIS@ZnS QDs. (a) XRD pattern of ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots; (b) TEM image of ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots

Fig. 2. Spectra of ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots and molecular switch. (a) UV-Vis absorption spectrum, PL spectrum, and fluorescence peak maps of ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots; (b) PL lifetime decay curves of ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots (insert shows fitting parameters); UV-Vis absorption spectra of (c) ac-DAE and (d) t-DAE in open/closed-ring states (inserts are schematic diagrams of configuration transformation of ac-DAE and t-DAE)

Fig. 3. UV-Vis absorption spectra, PL spectra and Stern-Volmer fitting curves of ZCGIS@ZnS-t-DAE and ZCGIS@ZnS-ac-DAE under 310 nm light irradiation at different time [inserts in Figs. 3(b) and 3(e) show PL images of hybrid system after irradiation at 310 nm and individual ZCGIS@ZnS quantum dots]. (a)(d) UV-Vis absorption spectra; (b)(e) PL spectra; (c)(f) Stern-Volmer fitting curves

Fig. 4. Kinetic test characterization of ZCGIS@ZnS and ZCGIS@ZnS-ac-DAEc QDs. (a) Nanosecond transient absorption spectra of ZCGIS@ZnS and ZCGIS@ZnS-ac-DAEc [signal was collected at a delay time of 15 ns after excitation of pump light (430 nm, 60 mW); (b) Kinetic decay traces probed at 775 nm (inset shows fitting parameters)

Fig. 5. PL intensity at 485 nm for ZCGIS@ZnS-ac-DAE over 8 irradiation cycles with UV and green light