Accessing Tunable Afterglows from Highly Twisted Nonaromatic Organic AIEgens via Effective Through-Space Conjugation

Nonaromatic, cross-conjugated, and highly twisted luminogens consisting of acylated succinimides demonstrate aggregation-induced emission characteristics along with tunable multicolor photoluminescence and afterglows in their single crystals. Effective through-space conjugation among different moieties bearing n/π electrons promote the spin–orbit coupling and intersystem crossing and lead to diverse emissive clusters with concurrently rigidified conformations, thus allowing readily tunable emissions. Derived from it, the proof-of-concept application for advanced anti-counterfeiting is illustrated. These results should spur the rational design of novel nonaromatic AIEgens, and moreover advance understandings of the non-traditional intrinsic luminescence and the origin of tunable multicolor afterglows.     

A clustering-triggered emission strategy for tunable multicolor persistent phosphorescence

A clustering-triggered emission (CTE) strategy, namely the formation of heterogeneous clustered chromophores and conformation rigidification, for achieving tunable multicolor phosphorescence in single-component compounds is proposed. Non-conventional luminophores comprising just oxygen functionalities and free of π-bonding, i.e., d-(+)-xylose (d-Xyl), pentaerythritol (PER), d-fructose (d-Fru) and d-galactose (d-Gal), were adopted as a simple model system with an explicit structure and molecular packing to address the hypothesis. Their concentrated solutions and crystals at 77 K or under ambient conditions demonstrate remarkable multicolor phosphorescence afterglows in response to varying excitation wavelengths, because of the formation of diverse oxygen clusters with sufficiently rigid conformations. The intra- and inter-molecular O⋯O interactions were definitely illustrated by both single crystal structure analysis and theoretical calculations. These findings shed new light on the origin and simple achievement of tunable multicolor phosphorescence in single-component pure organics, and in turn, have strong implications for the emission mechanism of non-conventional luminophores.

A clustering-triggered emission strategy is proposed to readily realize tunable multicolor afterglows in single-component pure organic compounds.     

Visible‐Light‐Excited Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence in Water by Cucurbit[8]uril‐Mediated Supramolecular Assembly

Solid‐state materials with efficient room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emissions have found widespread applications in materials science, while liquid or solution‐phase pure organic RTP emission systems has been rarely reported, because of the nonradiative decay and quenchers from the liquid medium. Reported here is the first example of visible‐light‐excited pure organic RTP in aqueous solution by using a supramolecular host‐guest assembly strategy. The unique cucurbit[8]uril‐mediated quaternary stacking structure allows tunable photoluminescence and visible‐light excitation, enabling the fabrication of multicolor hydrogels and cell imaging. The present assembly‐induced emission approach, as a proof of concept, contributes to the construction of novel metal‐free RTP systems with tunable photoluminescence in aqueous solution, providing broad opportunities for further applications in biological imaging, detection, optical sensors, and so forth.     

Photo‐ and pH‐Tunable Multicolor Fluorescent Nanoparticle‐Based Spiropyran‐ and BODIPY‐Conjugated Polymer with Graphene Oxide

We report a stimuli‐responsive fluorescent nanomaterial, based on graphene oxide coupled with a polymer conjugated with photochromic spiropyran (SP) dye and hydrophobic boron dipyrromethane (BODIPY) dye, for application in triggered target multicolor bioimaging. Graphene oxide (GO) was reduced by catechol‐conjugated polymers under mildly alkaline conditions, which enabled to formation of functionalized multicolor graphene nanoparticles that can be induced by irradiation with UV light and by changing the pH from acidic to neutral. Investigation of these nanoparticles by using AFM, fluorescence emission, and in vitro cell and in vivo imaging revealed that they show different tunable colors in bioimaging applications and, more specifically, in cancer‐cell detection. The stability, biocompatibility, and quenching efficacy of this nanocomposite open a different perspective for cell imaging in different independent colors, sequentially and simultaneously.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.     

Multiple‐Stimuli Responsive and Tunable Luminescent Supramolecular Assembly by Oligo(p‐phenylvinylene) and Surfactant

Achieving multicolor photoluminescence under multiple stimuli response based on a single fluorescent compound remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a novel multicolor fluorescent supramolecular assembly, which was constructed from surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SLS) and fluorescent compound 1 bearing a rigid symmetrical acceptor–donor–acceptor structure. The luminescence property of 1 /SLS assembly showed the multiple stimuli response towards temperature, cyclodextrin complexation and UV light irradiation, exhibiting the tunable emission wavelengths from 490 nm to 590 nm and the multicolor photoluminescence including cyan, green, yellow and orange. Furthermore, this assembly could be used in light writing owing to the fast fluorescence change within 15 s. These results could provide a convenient and useful method for fabricating smart tunable photoluminescent materials.     

Amorphous Ionic Polymers with Color‐Tunable Ultralong Organic Phosphorescence

Amorphous purely organic phosphorescence materials with long‐lived and color‐tunable emission are rare. Herein, we report a concise chemical ionization strategy to endow conventional poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP) derivatives with ultralong organic phosphorescence (UOP) under ambient conditions. After the ionization of 1,4‐butanesultone, the resulting PVP‐S phosphor showed a UOP lifetime of 578.36 ms, which is 525 times longer than that of PVP polymer itself. Remarkably, multicolor UOP emission ranging from blue to red was observed with variation of the excitation wavelength, which has rarely been reported for organic luminescent materials. This finding not only provides a guideline for developing amorphous polymers with UOP properties, but also extends the scope of room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials for practical applications in photoelectric fields.     

Mechanochromic Photonic‐Crystal Fibers Based on Continuous Sheets of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes

A new family of mechanochromic photonic‐crystal fibers exhibits tunable structural colors under stretching. This novel mechanochromic fiber is prepared by depositing polymer microspheres onto a continuous aligned‐carbon‐nanotube sheet that has been wound on an elastic poly(dimethylsiloxane) fiber, followed by further embedding in poly(dimethylsiloxane). The color of the fiber can be tuned by varying the size and the center‐to‐center distance of the polymer spheres. It further experiences reversible and rapid multicolor changes during the stretch and release processes, for example, between red, green, and blue. Both the high sensitivity and stability were maintained after 1000 deformation cycles. These elastic photonic‐crystal fibers were woven into patterns and smart fabrics for various display and sensing applications.     

Modular Synthesis of Spirocyclic Germafluorene–Germoles: A New Family of Tunable Luminogens

The zirconium‐mediated synthesis of a new class of air‐stable spirocyclic germafluorene–germole (SGG) luminogens is reported. These species contain ring‐fused germafluorene and germole units that display color‐tunable fluorescence when peripheral aryl substituents are appended. Three distinct pathways are introduced for SGG modification (Stille, Suzuki–Miyaura, and zirconocene‐mediated couplings), which enable the preparation of new libraries of molecular and polymeric SGG light‐emitters with tunable luminescence and desirable thermal‐ and photo‐stability.     

Acid-induced tunable white light emission based on triphenylamine derivatives

A series of triphenylamine (TPA) derivatives with various substituent groups were prepared and showed different absorption and fluorescence characteristics due to the substituent effect. On account of the existence of pyridine units, these TPA derivatives exhibited acid-induced tunable multicolor fluorescence emission including white light emission. In addition, acid-induced fluorescence regulation of these compounds has been also realized in the solid state, which enable them to be successfully constructed the stimuli-responsive fluorescent films and fluorescent inks for inkjet printing.     

Crystallization‐Induced Reversal from Dark to Bright Excited States for Construction of Solid‐Emission‐Tunable Squaraines

Squaraines (SQs) with tunable emission in the solid state is of great importance for various demands; however a remaining challenge is emission quenching upon aggregation. Herein, a unique SQ, named as CIEE‐SQ, is designed to exhibit strong emission in crystal, undergoing crystallization‐induced reverse from dark ¹(n+σ,π*) to bright ¹(π,π*) excited states. Such an excited state of CIEE‐SQ can be subtly tuned by molecular conformation changes during the unexpected temperature‐triggered single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SCSC) reversible transformation. Furthermore, co‐crystallization between CIEE‐SQ and chloroform largely stabilize the ¹(π,π*) state, enhancing the transition dipole moment and decreasing the reorganization energy to boost the fluorescence, which is promising in data encryption and decryption.     

Excitation‐Dependent Long‐Life Luminescent Polymeric Systems under Ambient Conditions

Organic room temperature luminescent materials present a unique phosphorescence emission with a long lifetime. However, many of these materials only emit single blue or green color in spite of external stimulation, and their color tunability is limited. Herein, we report a rational design to extend the emission color range from blue to red by controlling the doping of simple pyrene derivatives into a robust polymer matrix. The integration of these pyrene molecules into the polymer films enhances the intersystem crossing pathway, decreases the first triplet level of the system, and ensures the films show a sensitive response to excitation energy, finally yielding excitation‐dependent long‐life luminescent polymeric systems under ambient conditions. These materials were used to construct anti‐counterfeiting patterns with multicolor interconversion, presenting a promising application potential in the field of information security.     

Diels–Alder Polymer Networks with Temperature‐Reversible Cross‐Linking‐Induced Emission

A novel synthetic strategy gives reversible cross‐linked polymeric materials with tunable fluorescence properties. Dimaleimide‐substituted tetraphenylethene (TPE‐2MI), which is non‐emissive owing to the photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) between maleimide (MI) and tetraphenylethene (TPE) groups, was used to cross‐link random copolymers of methyl (MM), decyl (DM) or lauryl (LM) methacrylate with furfuryl methacrylate (FM). The mixture of copolymer and TPE‐2MI in DMF showed reversible fluorescence with “on/off” behavior depending on the Diels–Alder (DA)/retro‐DA process, which is easily adjusted by temperature. At high temperatures, the retro‐DA reaction is dominant, and the fluorescence is quenched by the photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. In contrast, at low temperatures, the emission recovers as the DA reaction takes over. A transparent PMFM/TPE‐2MI polymer film was prepared which shows an accurate response to the external temperature and exhibited tunable fluorescent “turn on/off” behavior. These results suggest the possible application in areas including information security and transmission. An example of invisible/visible writing is given.     

Heteroepitaxial Growth of Multiblock Ln‐MOF Microrods for Photonic Barcodes

Micro/nanoscale multicolor barcodes with unique identifiability and a small footprint play significant roles in applications such as multiplexed labeling and tracking systems. Now, a strategy is reported to design multicolor photonic barcodes based on 1D Ln‐MOF multiblock heterostructures, where the domain‐controlled emissive colors and different block lengths constitute the fingerprint of a corresponding heterostructure. The excellent heteroepitaxial growth characteristics of MOFs enable the effective modulation of the coding structures, thereby remarkably increasing the encoding capacity. The as‐prepared multicolor barcodes enable an efficient authentication and exhibit great potential in fulfilling the functions of anti‐counterfeiting, information security, and so on. The results will pave an avenue to novel hybrid MOFs for optical data recording and security labels.     

Polymorph‐Dependent Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Understanding TADF from a Perspective of Aggregation State

Current research on thermally activated fluorescence (TADF) emitters is mainly based on the molecular levels, while the aggregation states of TADF emitters are to be explored deeply. Now two multifunctional emitters are reported with simultaneous TADF, aggregation induced emission (AIE), and multicolor mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) features. Both emitters also show polymorph‐dependent TADF emission. Crystal structure analysis reveals that the polymorphism is ascribed to the mutable conformations in different aggregation states. This work brings new insight to TADF emitters from a perspective of aggregation states.     

Structurally Tunable 3‐Cyanoformazanate Boron Difluoride Dyes

The straightforward synthesis of a series of 3‐cyanoformazanate boron difluoride dyes is reported. Phenyl, 4‐methoxyphenyl and 4‐cyanophenyl N‐substituted derivatives were isolated and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The compounds were demonstrated to possess tunable, substituent‐dependent absorption, emission, and electrochemical properties, which were rationalized through electronic structure calculations.     

Fixed‐Component Lanthanide‐Hybrid‐Fabricated Full‐Color Photoluminescent Films as Vapoluminescent Sensors

Full‐color lanthanide (Ln) photoluminescent materials have attracted considerable interest owing to their potential applications in display systems and lighting technologies. Herein, full‐color photoluminescent films have been designed and fabricated facilely with a fixed‐component Ln‐based (Ln=Tb and Eu) polymer hybrid doped with a proton‐sensitive amide‐type β‐diketonated photosensitizer, N‐(2‐pyridinyl)benzoylacetamide (HPBA). The tunable photoluminescence emissions of the films are achieved by changing the amounts of OH^? in the hybrid rather than varying the relative concentrations of the lanthanide ions and photosensitizers, thus representing a new paradigm for full‐color displays. The emission color can also be finely tuned through the variation of the excitation wavelength, and white‐light emission can be achieved when the given film is excited at the visible region (405 nm). The photophysical properties and the mechanisms of the intra‐ and intermolecular energy transfer before and after deprotonation have been investigated in detail. Meanwhile, the films might find application as vapoluminescent sensors due to their good stability, sensitivity, reversibility, and quick response when triggered by a base–acid vapor.     

Color‐Tunable Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Ruthenium N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

Ru(II) complexes 1 – 3 bearing various N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized, and their photophysical, electrochemical, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties were discussed to evaluate a potential of their use as multicolor ECL labels. Interestingly, they exhibited ECL emission ranging from greenish‐yellow to red both in nonaqueous and mixed aqueous solutions, which might show the potential of the Ru(II) complexes as multicolor ECL labels.     

Red‐Tuned Mn d–d Emission in Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Light‐emitting Mn‐doped semiconductor nanocrystals have been extensively studied for the last three decades for their intense and stable Mn d–d emission. In principle, this emission should be fixed at 585 nm (yellow), but recent studies have shown that the emission can be widely tuned even to 650 nm (red). This is a spectacular achievement as this would make Mn‐doped nanocrystals efficient and tunable light emitters. Keeping these developments in view, the chemistry of the synthesis of these materials, their photophysical processes and the expected origins of their red emission are summarized in this Minireview. All the related important studies from 1992 onwards are chronologically discussed, and one particular case is elaborated on in detail. As these materials are potentially important for biology, and photovoltaic, sensing and light‐emitting devices, this Minireview is expected to help researchers investigating the chemistry, physics and applications of these materials.