Bioinspired diphenylalanine with aggregation-induced emission in deep ultraviolet range

Luminophores with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in the deep ultraviolet are still quite lacking, albeit with plenty of luminogenic molecules showing a pronounced AIE effect. In this communication, the bioinspired diphenylalanine with AIE at 282 nm is reported. Photoluminescence (PL) intensity of this molecule increases rapidly with occurrence of aggregation. Furthermore, time-resolved and temperature-dependent PL spectra reveal the AIE phenomenon derives from the restriction of intramolecular motions.