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Published on: October 29, 2011
Cage-Confinement Induced Emission Enhancement
Rao Tao1, Xin Zhao1, Tianshu Zhao1
1Yunnan Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Materials & Technology, National Center for International Research on Photoelectric and Energy Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China.
Abstract:
As a proof-of-concept study, Imi-cage and Phos-cage organic molecular cages (OMCs) containing the triphenylphosphine (TPP) moiety, a nonclassic AIE luminogen (AIEgen), have been designed to demonstrate the cage-confinement induced emission enhancement (CCIEE). Thanks to the confinement effect of OMCs, the rigid Imi-cage exhibits much higher photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (ΦPL) than the open-shell Semicage and small molecule TPP in both solution and amorphous solid states. The emission of Phos-cage could be further enhanced in crystalline solid state with a remarkably high ΦPL of 97.6% (vs 3.47% of crystalline TPP) benefiting from AIE enabled by the highly ordered molecular packing. The novel strategy of CCIEE via confining an AIEgen into an OMC to achieve a significant emission enhancement will shed light on the development of solid-state highly fluorescent materials. The fluorescent nature of Imi-cage was further exploited for the ultrahighly sensitive detection of the explosive picric acid.
