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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Synthesis and Calibration of Phosphorescent Nanoprobes for Oxygen Imaging in Biological Systems
Published on: March 3, 2010
Photoexcitation-controlled self-recoverable molecular aggregation for flicker phosphorescence
Xiaoyong Jia1,2, Cancan Shao3, Xin Bai3
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438 Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Chemical systems with external control capability and self-recoverability are promising since they can avoid additional chemical or energy imposition during the working process. However, it remains challenging to employ such a nonequilibrium method for the engineering of optoelectronic function and for visualization. Here, we report a functional molecule that can undergo intense conformational regulation upon photoexcitation. It enables a dynamical change in hydrophobicity and a follow-up molecular aggregation in aqueous media, accordingly leading to an aggregation-induced phosphorescence (AIP) behavior. This successive performance is self-recoverable, allowing a rapid (second-scale cycle) and long-standing (>103 cycles) flicker ability under rhythmical control of the AIP. Compared with traditional bidirectional manipulations, such monodirectional photocontrol with spontaneous reset profoundly enhances the operability while mostly avoiding possible side reactions and fatigue accumulation. Furthermore, this material can serve as a type of luminescent probe for dynamically strengthening visualization in bioimaging.
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