Revisiting an ancient inorganic aggregation‐induced emission system: An enlightenment to clusteroluminescence

Abstract

Organic and inorganic clusteroluminescence have attracted great attention while the underlying mechanisms is still not well understood. Here, we employed a series of ancient inorganic complexes platinocyanides with aggregation‐induced emission property to elucidate the mechanism of clusteroluminescence including how does the chromophore form and how does the solid structures influence the luminescence behaviors. The results indicate that the isolated platinocyanide cannot work as a chromophore to emit visible light, while their clusterization at aggregate state can trigger the d‐orbitals coupling of the platinum atoms to facilitate the electron exchange and delocalization to form a new chromophore to emit visible light. Furthermore, the counter ions and H2O ligands help to rigidify the three‐dimensional network structure of the platinocyanides to suppress the excited state nonradiative decay, resulting in the high quantum yield of up to 96%. This work fundamentally helps understanding both the organic and inorganic clusteroluminescence phenomenon.

Insights into Optical Probes Based on Aggregation‐Induced Emission: from Restriction of Intramolecular Motions to Dark State

“…[6,7] AIE phenomenon can be observed both in organic and inorganic system. [8,9] Prototypical AIEgens such as tetraphenylethene (TPE) and pentaphenylsilole have been extensively studied and their unique properties also trigger the photophysical study in the aggregate state. [10,11] Through modulate the state of aggregate, AIEgens with desired photophysical properties could be used for practical applications.…”

How to Manipulate Through-Space Conjugation and Clusteroluminescence of Simple AIEgens with Isolated Phenyl Rings

“…This unconventional photophysical process is termed as clusterization-triggered emission and the corresponding emission is known as clusteroluminescence. [22][23][24][25] The previous studies suggested that strong intermolecular interactions among the closely packed molecules generated new emissive species and stabilized excited excitons to produce clusteroluminescence. [26][27][28] Apart from intermolecular interaction, intramolecular through-space conjugation (TSC) was also proved to play an important role in clusteroluminescence.…”

White-light emission from organic aggregates: a review

“…Electronic delocalization and coupling between electron-rich groups (e.g., carbonyl, hydroxyl, and sulfhydryl groups) can generate new emissive species and stabilize excitons to produce such clusteroluminescence. 58,87 These new species usually produce emission with a longer wavelength than the intrinsic shortwavelength emission of the electron-rich groups from throughbond conjugation.…”