White Light Generation from a Self-Assembled Fluorogen–Surfactant Composite Light Harvesting Platform

Abstract

Nonionic surfactant modulated aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of Dimethyl-2,5-bis­(4-(methoxyphenyl)­amino)­terephthalate (DBMPT) has been investigated. DBMPT exhibits unidirectional aggregated growth with nonionic triton X-100 (TX-100) to produce highly luminescent nanorods, the dimensions and emission intensities of which are controlled by concentration of DBMPT. Energy transfer from perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTAD) to these nanorods in aqueous medium produces pure white light emission with the CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.33, 0.36) and a significantly high quantum yield of 35%. Gelation of the system with agarose yields a bright white light emitting gel. Both these factors demonstrate an excellent potential for application of this system in light harvesting and as an advanced material for organic electronic devices.

Morphological Evolution of Strongly Fluorescent Water Soluble AIEEgen-Triblock Copolymer Mixed Aggregates with Shape-Dependent Cell Permeability

“…It was ascribed to the DBMPT monomer, while the 0.80 ns component was ascribed to homoaggregates of DBMPT without the involvement of TBPs. The rationale for this assignment is as follows: Fluorescence enhancement of AIEEgens like DBMPT is due to the disruption of nonradiative channels upon aggregation and so is associated with an increase in lifetime. , The amplitude of the 0.40 ns component decreased sigmoidally with both the TBPs, while that of the 0.80 ns component went through a maximum and then decreased to zero with P123 and to a small, but non-zero value with F127 (Tables S1 and S2, Figure S2b,c). Upon addition of TBPs, a third, longer component was necessary to account for the incorporation of the AIEEgen in the TBPs to form aggregates with more intense fluorescence.…”

“…22,23 AIEE induced by the neutral surfactant, triton X-100, for example, has been reported by our group very recently. 24 Tri-block copolymers (TBPs), used extensively in experimental medicine and pharmaceutical applications, 25,26 are promising, but not widely used as such scaffolds for AIEE. They are composed of two hydrophilic (poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, for example) blocks and one hydrophobic (poly-(propylene oxide), PPO, for example) block, in a core−shell fashion.…”

“…Supramolecular self-assembly provides a significantly better alternative, provided that care is taken to address the issues of stability and rapid photodegradation due to leakage of dyes . Hybrid materials comprising mixed aggregates of morphology-directing scaffolds and AIEEgens are state of the art. , They build upon non-covalent attachment through ionic binding, host–guest interactions or π–π stacking as driving forces. , AIEE induced by the neutral surfactant, triton X-100, for example, has been reported by our group very recently . Tri-block copolymers (TBPs), used extensively in experimental medicine and pharmaceutical applications, , are promising, but not widely used as such scaffolds for AIEE.…”

One-Pot Phosphine-Free Route for Single-Component White Light Emitting CdSexSy Alloy Nanocrystals

“…However, it is challenging to maintain the quality of white light upon assembling WLE CdSe x S y nanocrystals in a gel or a polymer matrix. 68 CdSe x S y (Se/S = 0.4) nanocrystals were used for the WLE gel and thin films fabrication due to the high quantum yield (Figure 7). Two wt % of gelatin in 1 mL water was heated at 50 °C.…”

“…The trap-state-rich white light emitting semiconductor nanocrystals fabricated through a phosphine-free route are promising for lighting and display devices. However, it is challenging to maintain the quality of white light upon assembling WLE CdSe x S y nanocrystals in a gel or a polymer matrix . CdSe x S y (Se/S = 0.4) nanocrystals were used for the WLE gel and thin films fabrication due to the high quantum yield (Figure ).…”