Dual-state emission: the compatible art of substantial rigidity and twisting conformation within a single molecule

Dual-state emission (DSE) is an emerging phenomenon in which organic molecules exhibit bright emission in both dilute solution and solid states. This nascent concept replenishes the knowledge in photophysical areas and practical applications connected to the mono-state emission effect. Recently, the molecular blueprints of dual-state emissive luminogens (DSEgens) have boomed and advanced wide-spread realms ranging from molecular bioimaging to optoelectronic devices. However, a systematic survey on the structural features and working principles of DSEgens is rare to date. Herein, this collective review highlights compatibility oriented creations of intramolecular p-conjugated rigidity and twisted conformation in constructing efficient DSEgens, based on selected precursor skeletons. Simultaneously, we perform an in-depth analysis of the correlation between molecular configurations and emission properties of DSEgens, focusing on their emission efficiency and wavelength variability at the mono-meric/aggregated level. In addition, preliminary applications of DSEgens are demonstrated, and the perspectives on their feature-based fundamentals and applications are shortly discussed.(c) 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Dual-state emission refers to the phenomenon where organic molecules exhibit bright emission in both dilute solution and solid states. This concept has contributed to the understanding of photophysical areas and practical applications of mono-state emission. This review focuses on the structural features and working principles of dual-state emissive luminogens (DSEgens), highlighting the importance of intramolecular p-conjugated rigidity and twisted conformation in their efficient construction. The correlation between molecular configurations and emission properties of DSEgens is analyzed, with a focus on emission efficiency and wavelength variability. Preliminary applications and future perspectives of DSEgens are also discussed.