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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae
Published on: October 10, 2014
Aggregation-Induced Emission and Light-Harvesting Function of Tetraphenylethene-Based Tetracationic Dicyclophane
Yawen Li1, Yunhong Dong1, Lin Cheng1
1Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science , Northwest University , Xi'an 710069 , People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Here we report one-pot synthesis of tetraphenylethene-based tetracationic dicyclophane (1) and its self-assembly behaviors with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and light-harvesting function. Confirmed by X-ray crystal structure and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, this tetracationic dicyclophane can self-assemble into a 3D supramolecular framework to form crystalline nanospheres (2) finally, which exhibits a strong emission (ΦF = 97.7%) via AIE effect in aqueous solution. Interestingly, AIE-active 2 as a single-molecule-based fluorescent supramolecular platform can encapsulate an organic dye (e.g., Nile red) to form light-harvesting nanospheres (3) further with a large red-shift (Δλ = ∼70 nm), highly efficient energy-transfer ability (ΦET = 77.5%), and high antenna effect (14.3).
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