Generating circularly polarized luminescence from clusterization\u2010triggered emission using solid phase molecular self-assembly

Peilong Liao,Wenkai Wang,Tongyue Wu,Jianbin Huang,Shihao Zang,Ben Zhong Tang,Hongjun Jin,Yun Yan

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-25789-9

Abstract

Purely-organic clusterization‐triggered emission (CTE) has displayed promising abilities in bioimaging, chemical sensing, and multicolor luminescence. However, it remains absent in the field of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) due to the difficulties in well-aligning the nonconventional luminogens. We report a case of CPL generated with CTE using the solid phase molecular self-assembly (SPMSA) of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and oleate ion (OL), that is, the macroscopic CPL supramolecular film self-assembled by the electrostatic complex of PLL/OL under mechanical pressure. Well-defined interface charge distribution, given by lamellar mesophases of OL ions, forces the PLL chains to fold regularly as a requirement of optimal electrostatic interactions. Further facilitated by hydrogen bonding, the through-space conjugation (TSC) of orderly aligned electron-rich O and N atoms leads to CTE-based CPL, which is capable of transferring energy to an acceptor via a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process, making it possible to develop environmentally friendly and economic CPL from sustainable and renewable materials.

Highlights

Purely-organic clusterization‐triggered emission (CTE) has displayed promising abilities in bioimaging, chemical sensing, and multicolor luminescence
A precipitate composed of a pair of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte and amphiphile was first generated in water, and further subjected to mild mechanical pressure to facilitate the merging of nanometersized hydrophobic domains into mesophases
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) study (Supplementary Fig. 2) reveal that the CTE of PLL is originated from the heterogeneous clustering states of PLL chains

Summary

Introduction

Purely-organic clusterization‐triggered emission (CTE) has displayed promising abilities in bioimaging, chemical sensing, and multicolor luminescence. CTE using the strategy of solid-phase molecular self-assembly (SPMSA) proposed by us[58,59,60] In this strategy, a precipitate composed of a pair of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte and amphiphile was first generated in water, and further subjected to mild mechanical pressure to facilitate the merging of nanometersized hydrophobic domains into mesophases. PLL folds into a well-defined structure on the interface of the bilayers formed by OLs, which results in the alignment of the clusteroluminogens (O and N atoms) during the process of TSC, as well as the significant CPL due to the expression of chirality of the amino groups in the CTE

Methods

Results

Conclusion