Synthesis and Design of Aggregation‐Induced Emission Surfactants: Direct Observation of Micelle Transitions and Microemulsion Droplets |
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| Authors: | Dr. Weijiang Guan Dr. Wenjuan Zhou Prof. Dr. Chao Lu Prof. Dr. Ben Zhong Tang |
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| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 79, 100029, Beijing (China);2. Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong (China) |
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| Abstract: | The direct visualization of micelle transitions is a long‐standing challenge owing to the intractable aggregation‐caused quenching of light emission in the micelle solution. Herein, we report the synthesis of a surfactant with a tetraphenylethene (TPE) core and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The transition processes of surfactant micelles and the microemulsion droplets (MEDs) formed by the surfactant with a TPE core were clearly visualized by a high‐contrast fluorescence imaging method. The fluorescence intensity of the MEDs decreased as the size of MEDs increased as a result of weakening of the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR). The results of this study deepen our understanding of micelle‐transition processes and provide solid evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the AIE phenomenon has its origin in the RIR of fluorophores in the aggregate state. |
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| Keywords: | aggregation‐induced emission fluorescence micelles microemulsions surfactants |
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