Transforming the behavior of conventional chromophores from aggregation-caused quenching to aggregation-induced emission

Abstract

Conventional chromophores tend to have their fluorescence quenched in aggregate states,which was the notorious aggregation-caused quenching(ACQ)effect.The ACQ effect seriously limited the practical applications of conventional chromophores.In contrast to ACQ,agroup of luminescent materials are weakly emissive or even non-emissive in solutions but highly emissive by aggregate formation.This phenomenon was termed"aggregation-induced emission"(AIE).The swiftly development of AIE materials provided a new strategy,which can elimination the ACQ effect by introducing AIE moieties to the ACQ chromophores.The converted ACQ chromophores may have new properties and can be used in new field.This review was aimed to summarize recent progress on the conversion of ACQ chromophores,such as the conversion of triphenylamine derivatives,fused cyclic compounds and rylene diimides derivatives by introducing siloles,substituted ethenes(including tetraphenylethylene,triphenylethylene and triphe-nylethylene carbazole)or triphenylacrylonitrile moieties to them.In addition,the properties and applications of the new materials are introduced briefly.The development trends of this field are also prospected.