Instant in situ highlighting of latent fingerprints by a green fluorescent probe based on aggregation-induced emission

Fluorescence sensing of latent fingerprints (LFPs) has gained extensive attention due to its high sensitivity, non-destructive testing, low biotoxicity, ease of operation, and the potential for in situ visualization. However, the realization of in situ visualization of LFPs especially with green emission and rapid speed is still a challenge. Herein, we synthesized an amphibious green-emission AIE-gen TPE-NI-AOH (PLQY = 62%) for instant in situ LFP detecting, which integrates the excellent fluorescence properties of naphthalimide (NI) with a hydrophilic head and the AIE character as well as the donating property of tetraphenylethene (TPE). TPE-NI-AOH in ethanol/water binary solvent was used as an environmentally friendly LFP developer and achieved in situ green-fluorescence visualization of LFPs. The fluorescence signal achieves its 60% saturated intensity in 0.37 s and nearly 100% in 2.50 s, which is an instant process for the naked eye. Moreover, level 3 details and super-resolution images of LFPs could be observed clearly. Besides, the TPE-NI-AOH developer could be stored for at least 6 months, suitable for long-term storage. This instant in situ highlighting method does not require post-processing operations, providing a more convenient, rapid, and efficient detection method of LFPs. This work would inspire the further advancement of fluorescent sensors for fingerprint imaging.

Use of Molecular Logic Gates for the Tuning of Chemosensor Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is a crucial aspect in the development of fluorescent chemosensors. We aimed to address this issue using molecular logic gates. By creating an AND logic gate with two binding sites for the same type of ion, we increased the dynamic range of a sodium chemosensor while still using the same ionophore. Naphthalimide derivatives 1 and 2 were synthesized to test the plausibility of this application. Being an AND logic gate, the second molecule requires two Na+ ions, while molecule 1 requires a single ion for sensing. The application of this molecular logic gate is a useful method of altering the chemosensor range.

Advances on fluorescence chemosensors for selective detection of water

Water, although an important part of everyday life, is acts as one of the most significant contaminants in various applications such as biomedical monitoring, chemical production, petroleum-based fuel and food processing. In fact, the presence of water in other solvents is a huge concern. For the quantification of trace water content, different methods such as Karl-Fischer, electrochemical, nuclear magnetic resonance, chromatography, and thermogravimetric analysis have been used. Although every technique has its own benefit, each one suffers from several drawbacks that include high detection costs, lengthy procedures and specialized operations. Nowadays, the development of fluorescence-based chemical probes has become an exciting area of research for the quick and accurate estimation of water content in organic solvents. A variety of chemical processes such as hydrolysis reaction, metal ions promoted oxidation reaction, suppression of the -C═N isomerization, protonation and deprotonation reactions, and molecular aggregation have been well researched in the last few years for the fluorescent detection of trace water. These chemical processes eventually lead to different photophysical events such as aggregation-induced emission (AIE), aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE), aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET), charge transfer, photo-induced electron transfer (PET), excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) that are responsible for the detection. This review presents a summary of the fluorescence-based chemosensors reported in recent years. The design of water sensors, sensing mechanisms and their potential applications are reviewed and discussed.

Photophysical Analysis of Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Luminogens Based on Triphenylamine and Thiophene: Insights into Emission Behavior in Solution and PMMA Films

Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) luminogens have garnered significant interest due to their distinctive applications in different applications. Among the diverse molecular architectures, those based on triphenylamine and thiophene hold prominence. However, a comprehensive understanding of the deactivation mechanism both in solution and films remains lacking. In this study, we synthesized and characterized spectroscopically two AIE luminogens: 5-(4-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (TTY) and 5'-(4-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)-[2,2'-bithiophene]-5-carbaldehyde (TTO). Photophysical and theoretical analyses were conducted in both solution and PMMA films to understand the deactivation mechanism of TTY and TTO. In diluted solutions, the emission behavior of TTY and TTO is influenced by the solvent, and the deactivation of the excited state can occur via locally excited (LE) or twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state. In PMMA films, rotational and translational movements are constrained, necessitating emission solely from the LE state. Nevertheless, in the PMMA film, excimers-like structures form, resulting in the emergence of a longer wavelength band and a reduction in emission intensity. The zenith of emission intensity occurs when molecules are dispersed at higher concentrations within PMMA, effectively diminishing the likelihood of excimer-like formations. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSC) were fabricated to validate these findings, and the optical efficiency was studied at varying concentrations of luminogen and PMMA.

A Novel Indole Derivative with Superior Photophysical Performance for Fluorescent Probe, pH-Sensing, and Logic Gates

An indole-related molecules have been considered as the potential fluorescent probes for biological and electrochemical sensing. However, most of the indole probes have been usually used in a single detection mode. Indolium probes that enable accurate detection in complex environments are rarely reported. Here, four novel indole derivatives including the phenyl group substituted with different functional moieties were designed on the basis of the donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) concept. These derivatives exhibit positive solvatochromism owing to their varied molecular conformations upon contacting to various solvents and the different HOMO-LUMO gaps caused by the difference in electronic push-pull capability of the substituents. Their solid-state fluorescence emissions and multiple chromisms are observed due to the inherent twisted geometries and aggregation modes. In addition, these derivatives show dramatic color and fluorescence responses due to the protonation of the nitrogen and oxygen containing groups, and thus novel colorimetric pH sensors, fluorescent papers and logic gates have been designed.

Hydrophilic AIE-Active Tetraarylethenes for Fluorescence Sensing and Super-Resolution Imaging of Amyloid Fibrils from Hen Egg White Lysozyme

Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) is frequently applied as a model protein for research on protein folding, unfolding, and fibrillization identified by featured fluorescent probes. Here, a series of hydrophilic, pH-sensitive tetraarylethene (TAE)-type AIEgens are synthesized via a geminal cross-coupling (GCC) reaction and evaluated for their capabilities of fluorescence sensing and super-resolution localization imaging of HEWL fibrils. With superior optical and sensing properties, the selected TAE-type AIEgen probe is weakly emissive in aqueous media, without dependence on the pH value and buffer concentration, but exhibits "turn-on" fluorescence upon interaction with HEWL amyloid fibrils in a spontaneous and reversible way that just meets the requirement of fluorescence random switching for super-resolution imaging. The selected probe has the strongest fluorescence response to HEWL amyloid fibrils exhibiting a limit of detection of 0.59 nmol/L and enables super-resolution fluorescence imaging of amyloid aggregates with a high resolution of 40 nm.

Turn-on fluorescent naphthalimide-benzothiazole probe for cyanide detection and its two-mode aggregation-induced emission behavior

Naphthalimide-benzothiazole conjugate (NBTZ) linked by cinnamonitrile was designed, synthesized, and fully characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, HSQC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry. NBTZ exhibited unique turn-on fluorescence in the presence of CN^- with relatively high selectivity compared to other anions such as SCN^-, HSO₄^-, ClO₄^-, NO₃^-, Cl^-, Br^-, I^-, and PO₄^-3 in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The detection limit for CN^- was found to be 3.35 × 10^-8 M in THF. The sensing mechanism was analyzed through ¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, and mass spectroscopy. NBTZ also showed two-mode aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in THF-H₂O mixtures. In a 30:70 THF-H₂O (v/v) mixture, the maximum AIE was observed at 430 nm (blue) because of the rotation of the CC bond between the naphthalimide ring and the phenyl ring was restricted. In 10:90 THF-H₂O (v/v), a new red-shifted AIE appeared at 490 nm (cyan), due to the extended π-conjugation induced by restriction of rotation of the CC bond between the benzothiazole and naphthalimide rings.

Four imidazole derivative AIEE luminophores: sensitive detection of NAC explosives

Four imidazole sensors with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties were used for the sensitive detection of NAC explosives.

Effects of incorporating regioisomers and flexible rotors to direct aggregation induced emission to achieve stimuli-responsive luminogens, security inks and chemical warfare agent sensors

Efficient transformation of ACQ materials to AIE luminogens using simple design principles of positional isomerization and C-C bond exclusion is presented here. Consequently, the bond link, position and packing influence the photophysical properties that can be utilized in erasable secret inks, pressure sensors and chemical warfare sensors.

A highly efficient near infrared organic solid fluorophore based on naphthothiadiazole derivatives with aggregation-induced emission enhancement for a non-doped electroluminescent device

Two regioisomers of naphthothiadiazole derivatives with aggregation-induced emission enhancement exhibited a strong solid-state fluorescence emission in the range of 666-760 nm. A non-doped EL device emitted brilliant near infrared emission peaked at 754 nm with a high maximum radiance of 22 050 mW Sr-1 m-2, an EQE as high as 1.48%, and relatively low efficiency roll-off.

A 4-N,N-dimethylaminoaniline salicylaldehyde Schiff-base solution-solid dual emissive fluorophore: An aggregation-induced turquoise emission characteristics in liquid as a fluorescent probe for Zn2+ response; a strong near-infrared emission in solid state and application for optical data storage

A new Schiff-base 1 based on 4-N,N-dimethylaminoaniline salicylaldehyde is developed. It possesses unique solution-solid dual emission behaviour with emission color: an aggregation-induced bright turquoise emission in liquid and strong near-infrared emission in the solid state. Interestingly, on the one hand, compound 1 is promising a ratiometric fluorescent probe for Zn²⁺ ions detection in the aqueous solution with high sensitivity, selectivity, and relatively low detection limit. On the other hand, based on its inner stimuli-responsive nature, outstanding thermostability and photostability, 1 should be a very promising candidate for the write-once read-many optical data storage medium.

Precise Molecular Design for High-Performance Luminogens with Aggregation-Induced Emission

Precise design of fluorescent molecules with desired properties has enabled the rapid development of many research fields. Among the different types of optically active materials, luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) have attracted significant interest over the past two decades. The negligible luminescence of AIEgens as a molecular species and high brightness in aggregate states distinguish them from conventional fluorescent dyes, which has galvanized efforts to bring AIEgens to a wide array of multidisciplinary applications. Herein, the useful principles and emerging structure-property relationships for precise molecular design toward AIEgens with desirable properties using concrete examples are revealed. The cutting-edge applications of AIEgens and their excellent performance in enabling new research directions in biomedical theranostics, optoelectronic devices, stimuli-responsive smart materials, and visualization of physical processes are also highlighted.

Tuning the fluorescence based on the combination of TICT and AIE emission of a tetraphenylethylene with D–π–A structure

A simple D–π–A structured tetraphenylethylene with two electron-rich methyloxy groups and two electron withdrawing cyano groups, which features both twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, namely TPEOMeCN has been prepared. The emission of TPEOMeCN examined in various solvents is dependent on the polarities of solvents, which indicates the TICT character. The emission intensity of the compound also enhances with the increasing water fraction in H₂O–DMSO mixtures, demonstrating the typical AIE property. Excitingly, the TICT and AIE emission could be observed separately or simultaneously by adjusting the water fraction or viscosity of the solvent. Encouragingly, the combined emission of the TPEOMeCN derived from this single molecule could be readily tuned via regulating the viscosity of the system, resulting in a broad emission peak which covers the visible spectrum (400–700 nm). This work provides a general strategy for designing molecules combining TICT emission and AIE for application as full-color emitters.

The combination of the TICT and AIE properties in a tetraphenylethylene based molecule with D–π–A structure is observed by simply adjusting the viscosity of the solvent.

Impact of Hydrogen Bonding on the Fluorescence of N-Amidinated Fluoroquinolones

The fluorescence properties of AIE-active N-amidinated fluoroquinolones, efficiently obtained by a perfluoroaryl azide-aldehyde-amine reaction, have been studied. The fluorophores were discovered to elicit a highly sensitive fluorescence quenching response towards guest molecules with hydrogen-bond-donating ability. This effect was evaluated in a range of protic/aprotic solvents with different H-bonding capabilities, and also in aqueous media. The influence of acid/base was furthermore addressed. The hydrogen-bonding interactions were studied by IR, NMR, UV/Vis and time-resolved fluorescence decay, revealing their roles in quenching of the fluorescence emission. Due to the pronounced quenching property of water, the N-amidinated fluoroquinolones could be utilized as fluorescent probes for quantifying trace amount of water in organic solvents.

Isatin-1,8-Naphthalimide Hydrazones: A Study of Their Sensor and ON/OFF Functionality

Five novel hydrazones derived from substituted isatins were synthesized as potential anion sensors. Using UV-VIS, FTIR, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy, these compounds’ tautomeric equilibrium and Z-E photoisomerization were studied in DMF and CHCl₃, depending on the hydrazone concentrations, the presence of basic anions and light stimulation. Anion recognition aspects (PF₆⁻, HSO₄⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, F⁻ and CH₃COO⁻) and these receptors’ detection limits were also studied. We also tested the light-stimulated ON-OFF functionality of these compounds in the presence or absence of these anions.

Aggregation-enhanced emissive mechanofluorochromic carbazole-halogen positional isomers: tunable fluorescence via conformational polymorphism and crystallization-induced fluorescence switching

The conformational twist of the carbazole-halogen positional isomers produced blue and green polymorphs with tunable solid-state fluorescence and demonstrated mechanofluorochromism.

Development of an intramolecular charge transfer-type colorimetric and fluorescence sensor for water by fusion with a juloidine structure and complexation with boron trifluoride

An intramolecular charge transfer-type optical sensor fused with a juloidine structure and complexed with boron trifluoride can detect and determine water over a wide concentration range.

Reversible mechanochromism and aggregation induced enhanced emission in phenothiazine substituted tetraphenylethylene

Reversible mechanofluorochromism (MFC) and aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties of phenothiazine functionalized tetraphenylethylene derivatives were investigated.

Conformational change due to intramolecular hydrophobic interaction leads to large blue-shifted emission from single molecular cage solutions

Intramolecular hydrophobic interaction in single metal–organic cage leads to the conformational change with a blue-shifted emission.

Functional 1,8-Naphthalimide AIE/AIEEgens: Recent Advances and Prospects

This comprehensive review surveys the up-to-date development of aggregation-induced emission/aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIE/AIEE) active naphthalimide (NI)-based smart materials with potential for wide and real-world applications and that serves as a highly versatile building block with tunable absorption and emission in the complete visible region. The review article commences with a precise description of the importance of NI moiety and its several restricted area of applications owing to its aggregation caused quenching (ACQ) properties, followed by the discovery and importance of AIE/AIEE-active NIs. The introduction section tracked an overview of the state of the art in NI luminogens in multiple applications. It also includes a few mechanistic studies on the structure-property correlation of NIs and provides more insights into the condensed-state photophysical properties of small aggregation-prone systems. The review aims to ultimately accomplish current and forthcoming views comprising the use of the NIs for the detection of biologically active molecules, such as amino acids and proteins, recognition of toxic analytes, fabrication of light emitting diodes, and their potential in therapeutics and diagnostics.

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.

Synthesis of tunable, red fluorescent aggregation-enhanced emissive organic fluorophores: stimuli-responsive high contrast off–on fluorescence switching

Molecular conformation controlled tunable and stimuli-responsive off–on fluorescence switching.

Pyrimidine-containing β-iminoenolate difluoroboron complexes acting as non-traditional π-gelators and mechanofluorochromic dyes

A xerogel-based film based on a mechanofluorochromic dye of a β-iminoenolate difluoroboron complex could detect TFA vapor with high performance.

Geminal cross-coupling synthesis, ion-induced emission and lysosome imaging of cationic tetraarylethene oligoelectrolytes

Novel ratiometric AIE-active tetraarylethene oligoelectrolytes synthesized by geminal cross-coupling show ion-induced emission and are applied as bioprobes for lysosome tracing.

Design and synthesis of theranostic antibiotic nanodrugs that display enhanced antibacterial activity and luminescence

We report the modular formulation of ciprofloxacin-based pure theranostic nanodrugs that display enhanced antibacterial activities, as well as aggregation-induced emission (AIE) enhancement that was successfully used to image bacteria. The drug derivatives, consisting of ciprofloxacin, a perfluoroaryl ring, and a phenyl ring linked by an amidine bond, were efficiently synthesized by a straightforward protocol from a perfluoroaryl azide, ciprofloxacin, and an aldehyde in acetone at room temperature. These compounds are propeller-shaped, and upon precipitation into water, readily assembled into stable nanoaggregates that transformed ciprofloxacin derivatives into AIE-active luminogens. The nanoaggregates displayed increased luminescence and were successfully used to image bacteria. In addition, these nanodrugs showed enhanced antibacterial activities, lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by more than one order of magnitude against both sensitive and resistant Escherichia coli The study represents a strategy in the design and development of pure theranostic nanodrugs for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Tuning the structures and photophysical properties of 9,10-distyrylanthrance (DSA) via fluorine substitution

Because of the differences in the position and degree of fluorine substitution, four fluorinated DSA derivatives, namely 4-BFSA, 3-BFSA, BDFSA and BTFSA, display different crystal packing and photophysical properties in the solid state.

Bulky 4,6-disubstituted tetraphenylethene–naphthalimide dyad: synthesis, copolymerization, stimuli-responsive fluorescence and cellular imaging

We report the design and synthesis of a tetraphenylethene substituted with naphthalimide at the 4, 6 positions, named NI-2TPE. NI-2TPE exhibits strong solvent-dependent emission properties with combined ICT and AIE characteristics in THF–H₂O systems. This probe was used directly on test papers to distinguish normal organic solvents using their emission colours under UV light based on its AIE and ICT nature. Thanks to the vinyl group in NI-2TPE, we synthesized a copolymer of NIPAM and NI-2TPE, termed P(NIPAM-co-NI-2TPE). The resulting polymer is highly soluble and fluorescent in water (Φ_F = 15.4%). Due to the well-known thermo-responsive character of NIPAM, P(NIPAM-co-NI-2TPE) exhibits an interesting fluorescence change in response to various temperatures. Due to the thermo-induced shrinking of the PNIPAM chain, the fluorescence intensity gradually increased from 20 to 34 °C. As the temperature further increased from 34 to 90 °C, the fluorescence intensity decreased sharply, which was caused by the well-known thermal effects. Furthermore, we synthesized a P(HEA-co-NI-2TPE–TPP acrylate) copolymer, in which HEA is a hydrophilic unit, TPP is a mitochondria label and NI-2TPE a fluorescent probe. The corresponding polymer probe is highly soluble in water with FLQY = 7% and we have further applied this probe as a mitochondria targeted imaging tracker in HeLa cells successfully.

Polysiloxane-Modified Tetraphenylethene: Synthesis, AIE Properties, and Sensor for Detecting Explosives

Polysiloxane-modified tetraphenylethene (PTPESi) is successfully synthesized by attaching tetraphenylethene (TPE) units onto methylvinyldiethoxylsiloxane and subsequent polycondensation. Introducing polysiloxane into TPE has minimal effect on the photophysical properties and aggregation-induced emission behavior of TPE. The highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) energy levels of PTPESi are located mainly on the tetraphenylethene moieties. The fluorescence intensity and the half width of the emission peak of PTPESi before and after annealing at 120 °C for 12 h are nearly the same, indicating high thermal stability and morphological stability. In addition, use of PTPESi film as a sensor toward the vapor-phase detection of explosives is also studied and it displays quite high fluorescence quenching efficiency and good reversibility.

Tuning of Aggregation Enhanced Emission and Solid State Emission from 1,8-Naphthalimide Derivatives: Nanoaggregates, Spectra, and DFT Calculations

Four new 1,8-naphthalimide based compounds, 4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-ylmethyl)-benzoic acid (LH), 4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-ylmethyl)-benzoic acid methyl ester (LMe), 4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-ylmethyl)-benzoyl chloride (LCl), and 4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-ylmethyl)-benzoic acid hydrazide (LN) are synthesized and characterized using spectral data and X-ray crystallography. They form nanoaggregates in aqueous-DMF solution and exhibited aggregation enhanced emission. The nanoaggregates are characterized using their scanning electron and atomic force microscopy images. The emission intensity follows the order as LH > LMe > LCl > LN. Their photophysical properties are recorded both in solution and in the solid-state and are correlated with the nature of benzoic acid derivatives owing to the combinatorial effect of π-π stacking and intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. The density functional theory calculations empower the understanding of their molecular and cumulative electronic behaviors. Antiparallel dimeric interactions in the solid-state extend a herringbone arrangement to LH and 2D channel and stair-like arrangement for LCl and LN, respectively.

Conformational and Molecular Structures of α,β-Unsaturated Acrylonitrile Derivatives: Photophysical Properties and Their Frontier Orbitals

We report single crystal X-ray diffraction (hereafter, SCXRD) analyses of derivatives featuring the electron-donor N-ethylcarbazole or the (4-diphenylamino)phenyl moieties associated with a -CN group attached to a double bond. The compounds are (2Z)-3-(4-(diphenylamino)-phenyl)-2-(pyridin-3-yl)prop-2-enenitrile (I), (2Z)-3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-prop-2-enenitrile (II) and (2Z)-3-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)enenitrile (III). SCXRD analyses reveal that I and III crystallize in the monoclinic space groups P2/c with Z’ = 2 and C2/c with Z’ = 1, respectively. Compound II crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn with Z’ = 1. The molecular packing analysis was conducted to examine the pyridine core effect, depending on the ortho, meta- and para-positions of the nitrogen atom, with respect to the optical properties and number of independent molecules (Z’). It is found that the double bond bearing a diphenylamino moiety introduced properties to exhibit a strong π-π-interaction in the solid state. The compounds were examined to evaluate the effects of solvent polarity, the role of the molecular structure, and the molecular interactions on their self-assembly behaviors. Compound I crystallized with a cell with two conformers, anti and syn, due to interaction with solvent. DFT calculations indicated the anti and syn structures of I are energetically stable (less than 1 eV). Also electrochemical and photophysical properties of the compounds were investigated, as well as the determination of optimization calculations in gas and different solvent (chloroform, cyclohexane, methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane and dimethyl sulfoxide) in the Gaussian09 program. The effect of solvent by PCM method was also investigated. The frontier HOMO and LUMO energies and gap energies are reported.

Exploration of Energy Modulations in Novel RhB-TPE-Based Bichromophoric Materials via Interactions of Cu(2+) Ion under Various Semiaqueous and Micellar Conditions

Novel bichromophoric materials TR-A and TR-B consisting of an entirely new combination of TPE and RhB units were developed to explore the optimum conditions of energy modulations via pH variation and Cu(2+) interaction at various water contents of CH3CN. Interestingly, TR-A and TR-B, at 60 and 70% water contents, respectively, favored the optimum Cu(2+)-mediated energy modulations from TPE to RhB and thus achieve the brightest orange emissions of free RhB with complete disappearance of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) from TPE. Furthermore, various micellar conditions of triton-X-100, SDS, and CTAB were employed to adjust energy modulations of TR-A and TR-B at high water contents (at 80 and 90%, respectively). The incorporation of RhB into triton-X-100 micellar cavities disrupted AIE from TPE; thus, none of the energy modulations from TPE to RhB occurred even in the presence of Cu(2+) ion. Interestingly, the micellar conditions of anionic surfactant (SDS) favored the increased local concentration of Cu(2+) ions in the vicinity of scavangable RhB and facilitated the generation of noncyclic free RhB in situ via bright-orange emissions.

Aggregation induced emission enhancement and growth of naphthalimide nanoribbons via J-aggregation: insight into disaggregation induced unfolding and detection of ferritin at the nanomolar level

A core substituted naphthalimide AIEEgen displays unusual nanoribbon growth in aqueous media with ultra-sensitivity towards non-heme protein ferritin at physiological conditions.

Construction of a highly efficient near-IR solid emitter based on naphthalene diimide with AIE-active tetraphenylethene periphery

AIE-active TTPEcNDI shows distinct near-IR optical properties and self-assembles into hollow spheres, fibrils and leaf-like nanostructures via solvophobic control.

Barbituric acid–triphenylamine adduct as an AIEE-type molecule and optical probe for mercury(ii)

A barbituric acid–triphenylamine adduct displayed interesting aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) features in a THF–water co-solvent system and can act as a fluorescence turn-on probe for Hg²⁺.