An Unexpected Dual-Emissive Luminogen: Tunable Aggregation-Induced Emission with Cyan-White-Red Colors, Stable Inherent Chirality, and Enhanced Chiroptical Property

Herein we report a novel chiral bismacrocycle with unexpected dual emission and tunable aggregation-induced emission colors. A facile four-step synthesis strategy is developed to construct this rigid bismacrocycle, (1,4)[8]cycloparaphenylenophane (SCPP[8]), which possesses a 1,2,4,5-tetraphenylbenzene core locked by two intersecting polyphenylene-based macrocycles. The luminescent behavior of SCPP[8] shows the unique characteristics of both aggregation-caused quenching effect and aggrega-tion-induced emission (AIE) effect, inducing remarkable redshift emission including near white-light emission. SCPP[8] is configurationally stable and possesses a novel shape-persistent bismacrocycle scaffold with a high strain energy (up to 127.83 kcal/mol). In addition, SCPP[8] displays enhanced circularly polarized luminescence properties due to AIE effect.

Novel Multifunctional NIR-II Aggregation-Induced Emission Nanoparticles Assisted Intraoperative Identification and Elimination of Residual Tumor

Incomplete tumor resection is the direct cause of the tumor recurrence and metastasis after surgery. Intraoperative accurate detection and elimination of microscopic residual cancer improve surgery outcomes. In this study, a powerful D1-π-A-D2-R type phototheranostic based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorophore is designed and constructed. The prepared theranostic agent, A1 nanoparticles (NPs), simultaneously shows high absolute quantum yield (1.23%), excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (55.3%), high molar absorption coefficient and moderate singlet oxygen generation performance. In vivo experiments indicate that NIR-II fluorescence imaging of A1 NPs precisely detect microscopic residual tumor (2 mm in diameter) in the tumor bed and metastatic lymph nodes. More notably, a novel integrated strategy that achieves complete tumor eradication (no local recurrence and metastasis after surgery) is proposed. In summary, A1 NPs possess superior imaging and treatment performance, and can detect and eliminate residual tumor lesions intraoperatively. This work provides a promising technique for future clinical applications achieving improved surgical outcomes.

Surface Charge Transfer Doping of MoS2 Monolayer by Molecules with Aggregation-Induced Emission Effect

Surface charge transfer doping has attracted much attention in modulating the optical and electrical behavior of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), where finding controllable and efficient dopants is crucial. Here, 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect were selected as adjustable dopants. By designing nitro and methoxyl functional groups and surface coating, controlled p/n-type doping can be achieved on a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown monolayer, MoS2. We investigated the electron transfer behavior between these two dopants and MoS2 with fluorescence, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectra and transient absorption spectra. 1,1,2,2-Tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)ethane (TPE-4NO2) with a negative charge aggregation can be a donor to transfer electrons to MoS2, while 1,1,2,2-Tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane (TPE-4OCH3) is the opposite and electron-accepting. Density functional theory calculations further explain and confirm these experimental results. This work shows a new way to select suitable dopants for TMDCs, which is beneficial for a wide range of applications in optoelectronic devices.