Recent advances in AIE polymers

Temperature and pH-Dual Responsive AIE-Active Core Crosslinked Polyethylene-Poly(methacrylic acid) Multimiktoarm Star Copolymers

A series of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active core crosslinked miktoarm star copolymers, having multi polyethylene (PE) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) arms, were synthesized and their thermal/pH responsive properties were studied. The procedure involves (a) the synthesis of PE-Br by polyhomologation of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide with triethylborane as initiator, followed by oxidation-hydrolysis/esterification reactions and of poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA-Br) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl methacrylate, (b) the synthesis of (PE)_n-(PtBMA)_m-P(TPE-2St) by ATRP of a double styrene-functionalized tetraphenylethene (TPE-2St) with PE-Br and PtBMA-Br macroinitiators, and (c) the hydrolysis of (PE)_n-(PtBMA)_m-P(TPE-2St) to afford the amphiphilic miktoarm star copolymers (PE)_n-(PMMA)_m-P(TPE-2St). Due to their spherical core-shell structure (temperature-responsive) and the presence of hydrophilic PMAA (pH-responsive) and TPE-2St (AIE), these miktoarm star copolymers are AIE materials with temperature/pH-dual responsivity. In addition, thanks to the coexistence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic arms, these materials promote stable water-in-oil emulsions.

Large Stokes-shifted NIR-emission from nanospace-induced aggregation of perylenemonoimide-doped polymer nanoparticles: imaging of folate receptor expression

The development of a water-soluble, perylenemonoimide (PMI) dye-doped polymer nanoparticle (PNP) with NIR emission for live-cell imaging is demonstrated. The large Stokes-shifted NIR emission is due to confined nanospace-induced aggregation offered by the polymer matrix. Later, folic acid functionalised PNP (PNP-FA) is successfully employed to differentiate folate receptor positive and negative cancer cells.

Conjugated polymers containing tetraphenylethylene in the backbones and side-chains for highly sensitive TNT detection

The novel polytriphenylamines derivatives PTPA1-TPE and PTPA2-TPE with TPE as side groups and bis(tert-butyl)-TPE in the backbones have been successfully synthesized via Yamamoto-type coupling under microwave heating. The incorporation of TPE units in the backbones and side-chains endows the polymers with a distinct AIE effect and high fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state. Meanwhile, nitroaromatic explosive detection based on dispersed, electron-rich PTPA1-TPE and PTPA2-TPE nanoaggregates in THF/water was carried out. Both of them show high sensitivity towards the TNT analyte, with a maximum Stern-Volmer quenching constant K sv of up to 8.3 × 104 M-1. In addition, the paper strip test demonstrates the promising practical application of the polymers as solid state sensors towards PL-based nitroaromatic explosive detection.

Photoluminescent polymeric micelles from poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(((4-vinylphenyl)ethene-1,1,2-triyl)tribenzene) diblock copolymers

We report the synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(((4-vinylphenyl)ethene-1,1,2-triyl)tribenzene) diblock copolymers via RAFT polymerization. The diblock copolymers were capable of self-assembling into photoluminescent micelles in aqueous media.

An AIEE fluorescent supramolecular cross-linked polymer network based on pillar[5]arene host–guest recognition: construction and application in explosive detection

A novel fluorescent supramolecular cross-linked polymer network with aggregation induced enhanced emission properties was constructed and further used for explosive detection.

Design and synthesis of a multifunctional porous N-rich polymer containing s-triazine and Tröger's base for CO2 adsorption, catalysis and sensing

A multifunctional porous N-rich polymer containing s-triazine and Tröger's base was synthesized. It shows selective adsorption for CO₂, colorimetric performance for HCl and good catalytic activity in the Knoevenagel condensation.

Highly efficient luminescent side-chain polymers with short-spacer attached tetraphenylethylene AIEgens via RAFT polymerization capable of naked eye explosive detection

The fluorescence quantum yield of side-chain AIE polymers was remarkably promoted just by shortening the linking spacer.

Iridium-catalyzed polymerization of benzoic acids and internal diynes: a new route for constructing high molecular weight polynaphthalenes without the constraint of monomer stoichiometry

A green and powerful polymerization tool for constructing functional multisubstituted polynaphthalenes without strict control on monomer stoichiometry.

Modulating aggregation-induced emission via a non-conjugated linkage of fluorophores to tetraphenylethenes

A fluorophore (DNS or NBD) is attached to tetraphenylethene via a non-conjugated bridge, endowing the resulting aggregates with distinct emission properties.

An aggregation-induced emission star polymer with pH and metal ion responsive fluorescence

A one-pot strategy from ring-opening metathesis polymerization was employed to prepare AIE-active star polymers, which were designed to have multi-responsive fluorescence to varied stimuli including pH, CO₂, and metal ions.