Piezochromic aggregation-induced emission materials

Abstract

Aggregation-induced emission molecules have a common propeller-like twisted conformation feature, which makes their molecular packings relatively loose. Their crystalline structures are easily destroyed by the planarization of the molecular conformation under external pressure, resulting in increased molecular conjugation, thereby facilitating a red-shift of the photoluminescence spectra, i.e. piezochromic luminescent properties. Aggregation-induced emission compounds can be expected to become an important resource of piezochromic luminescent materials. Piezochromic aggregation-induced emission materials are an important class of smart materials and have many important potential applications in mechanosensors, security inks and optoelectronic devices. This review summarized and discussed the recent advances in piezochromic aggregation-induced emission materials.