Luminescence in macrocyclic supramolecular systems

Macrocyclic supramolecular luminescent systems play an important role in the development of supramolecular chemistry and materials science, offering a powerful alternative to conventional luminescent systems by enabling precise control over emission properties through non-covalent interactions. Macrocyclic hosts provide an ideal platform for construction of advanced supramolecular luminescent systems by using the host-guest interactions to enhance luminescence efficiency, generate new luminescence properties, and facilitate stimulus-responsive behavior. Consequently, the development of new supramolecular luminescent systems is becoming a frontier and hot topic in supramolecular and macrocyclic chemistry. Therefore, in this review, we present the recent advances in the construction and applications of the new supramolecular luminescent systems emerged in recent years. We will systematically summarize the design and construction strategies of new macrocyclic supramolecular luminescent systems according to different luminescence mechanisms and highlight their applications in chemical sensing, bioimaging, information anti-counterfeiting, photocatalysis, etc. Moreover, we will discuss the prevailing challenges and future research directions, aiming to guide the development of novel smart luminescent materials with enhanced functionality and practical utility.