Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics of o-Carborane-Functionalized Tetraphenylethylene Luminogens: The Influence of Carborane Cages on Photoluminescence

Tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-carborane hybrids are constructed, and the impact of carborane substituents on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics of TPE-cores has been investigated. When altering the 2-R-group on the carborane unit with -H, -CH3 or phenyl group, the luminescent quantum yield of the corresponding TPE derivatives can be manipulated from 0.18 to 0.63 in the solid state. The emission color exhibits an obvious 100nm shift (from blue to yellow).