Themed collection Shape-Responsive Fluorophores
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Themed issue on shape-responsive fluorophores
Guest editors Ben Zhong Tang and Kyril M. Solntsev introduce this Journal of Materials Chemistry C themed issue on shape-responsive fluorophores.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2638-2639
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6TC90054B
Long wavelength AIEgen of quinoline-malononitrile
In this Highlight, we summarize some recent advances in the area of red to near-infrared fluorescent AIE-active organic materials via tailoring the building block of quinoline-malononitrile (QM), and its application in bioimaging.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2640-2646
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03369A
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Recent advances in twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) fluorescence and related phenomena in materials chemistry
Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is an electron transfer process that occurs upon photoexcitation in molecules that usually consist of a donor and acceptor part linked by a single bond.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2731-2743
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03933A
Subcellular behaviour evaluation of nanopharmaceuticals with aggregation-induced emission molecules
Aggregation-induced emission molecules based nanopharmaceuticals enable to not only deliver the therapeutic agents, but also decipher their innate intracellular or subcellular behaviours.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2719-2730
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03651H
Ratiometric mechanosensitive fluorescent dyes: design and applications
Dual-emission fluorescent dyes provide an internal calibration reference that enables quantification of a fluorescent signal. This review summarizes the rational design and application of such radiometric dyes.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2707-2718
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03504J
Supramolecularly assisted modulations in chromophoric properties and their possible applications: an overview
Macrocyclic host assisted modulations in the fluorescence and acid–base properties of organic chromophoric dyes and their possible applications are reviewed comprehensively.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2685-2706
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03321G
Blue AIEgens: approaches to control the intramolecular conjugation and the optimized performance of OLED devices
This review summarizes the recent progress in the field of blue AIEgens, mainly focusing on design strategies to control the intramolecular conjugation effect and to realize blue emission.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2663-2684
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03262H
Stimuli and shape responsive ‘boron-containing’ luminescent organic materials
A review on the recent developments of boron based shape and stimuli sensitive functional luminescent materials is presented.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2647-2662
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02406D
Light induced in situ post-modification of clay-chromophore hybrids for multiple white light emissions
In this study, soft clay chromophore hybrids were used to demonstrate a photo-modification strategy, in which one white light standard can be converted into another via in situ generation of a blue emitting chromophore.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2748-2751
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03319E
A fluorescent and halochromic indolizine switch
Proton transfer from a photoacid generator to a halochromic molecular switch within a polymer film permits the imprinting of fluorescent patterns under the influence of optical stimulations.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2744-2747
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03331D
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Docking-guided identification of protein hosts for GFP chromophore-like ligands
Fluorogenic chromophore–protein pairs were predicted by molecular docking and validated experimentally.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3036-3040
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03931B
Temperature-dependent shape-responsive fluorescent nanospheres for image-guided drug delivery
Nanospheres work similar to Hoberman spheres that undergo significant temperature-induced shape changes revealing large pores (holes) through which drugs released.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3028-3035
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6TC00122J
Fluorescence behavior of 5,10-disubstituted [5]helicene derivatives in solution and the effect of self-assembly on their radiative and non-radiative rate constants
Fluorescence behavior of 5,10-disubstituted [5]helicene derivatives is sensitive to the type of substituent and the motif of self-assembly in the solution phase.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2811-2819
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03675E
A fluorescent molecular rotor showing vapochromism, aggregation-induced emission, and environmental sensing in living cells
We present here a novel fluorescent molecular rotor which presents vapochromism, aggregation-induced emission, and environmental sensing in living cells.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3018-3027
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03541D
Excimer emission based on the control of molecular structure and intermolecular interactions
The wavelength of excimer formation and efficiency of an OLED device were controlled through the change of the center position of the triple-core chromophore.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2784-2792
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03289J
Restricted access to a conical intersection to explain aggregation induced emission in dimethyl tetraphenylsilole
Aggregation-induced emission of dimethyl tetraphenylsilole is due to restricted access to a conical intersection. The intersection allows for radiationless decay in solution but is not reachable in the aggregate phase.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2802-2810
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03322E
Dual emissive analogue of deoxyuridine as a sensitive hydration-reporting probe for discriminating mismatched from matched DNA and DNA/DNA from DNA/RNA duplexes
Herein, we report the incorporation in DNA of a tailored dual emissive probe with exquisite sensitivity to hydration.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3010-3017
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03427B
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Tuning the aggregation-induced enhanced emission behavior and self-assembly of phosphole-lipids
Herein, we report on the synthesis, self-assembly, as well as the photophysical properties of a novel series of P-benzylated phosphole-lipids.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2936-2944
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03311J
Effects of the benzoxazole group on green fluorescent protein chromophore crystal structure and solid state photophysics
Most of the conjugates exhibited aggregation-induced emission enhancement, probably involving a unusual type of excimer.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2793-2801
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03776J
Aggregation-induced emission enhancement and mechanofluorochromic properties of α-cyanostilbene functionalized tetraphenyl imidazole derivatives
Twisted tetraphenyl imidazole derivatives functionalized by α-cyanostilbene possess aggregation-induced emission enhancement and mechanochromic luminescence properties.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2971-2978
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03348A
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Polymorphism-dependent aggregation induced emission of a push–pull dye and its multi-stimuli responsive behavior
A push–pull dye with AIE polymorphism-dependent properties shows mechano-, thermo- and chrono-chromism associated with stimuli-induced surface structural defects.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2979-2989
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03352G
Thermoresponsive AIE polymers with fine-tuned response temperature
A series of thermoresponsive aggregation-induced emission polymers with fine-tuned hydrophilicity are synthesized as fluorescent thermometers with tunable response temperature.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2964-2970
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03298A
Confinement effect on the photophysics of ESIPT fluorophores
The photophysics of three benzothiazole derivatives that exhibit excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) were investigated in a confined medium afforded by the water soluble supramolecular host octaacid (OA).
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2820-2827
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03245H
Size and morphology effects on the fluorescence properties of π-conjugated poly(p-phenylene) polyelectrolyte nanoparticles synthesized via polyion association
A facile method is developed to synthesize π-conjugated polymer nanoparticles of propoxy-sulfonated poly(p-phenylene) polyelectrolyte (PPP-SO).
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2945-2953
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03337C
Effect of solvent, pH and metal ions on the self-assembly process and optical properties of an A–π–D–π–A type triphenylamine carboxylic acid derivative
The effect of solvent, pH and metal ion on the morphology and optical properties of a carboxylic-acid derivative was researched.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2990-3001
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03351A
Push–pull dioxaborine as fluorescent molecular rotor: far-red fluorogenic probe for ligand–receptor interactions
Fluorescent solvatochromic dyes and molecular rotors have attracted considerable attention as fluorogenic probes because of background-free detection of biomolecules in live cells in no-wash conditions.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3002-3009
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03411F
Initial hydrogen-bonding dynamics of photoexcited coumarin in solution with femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy
The ultrafast hydrogen bond breaking and reformation dynamics at the carbonyl site of a coumarin 102 dye molecule in ethanol is captured by femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) on the femtosecond and picosecond timescales.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2954-2963
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03598H
Using membrane composition to fine-tune the pKa of an optical liposome pH sensor
Anionic phospholipids in liposomes can be used to fine-tune membrane-anchored dye pKa by up to 1 pH unit.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2925-2930
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03480A
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Mechanoresponsive liquid crystals exhibiting reversible luminescent color changes at ambient temperature
Oligothiophene-based liquid crystals having a wide luminescent color variation exhibit reversible luminescent color changes induced by mechanical shearing and subsequent aging at ambient temperature.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2752-2760
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03578C
Crystallization induced enhanced emission in conformational polymorphs of a rotationally flexible molecule
The crystallization of weakly fluorescent 4-amino-2,2′-bipyridine (AMBPY) in solution phase under ambient conditions afforded three conformational polymorphs possessing enhanced emission.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2931-2935
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03188E
Photophysical properties of push–pull 8-aryl-deoxyguanosine probes within duplex and G-quadruplex structures
Acceptor aryl groups at the 8-position of 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) generate visibly emissive 8aryldG probes, which provide viscosity-sensing applications within oligonucleotides.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2915-2924
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03354C
An AIE and ESIPT based kinetically resolved fluorescent probe for biothiols
A new fluorescent probe based on AIE and ESIPT was developed. With the aid of different reactivity, a kinetically resolved method was successfully applied to distinguish different biothiols both in solution and cells.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2909-2914
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03272E
Triphenylamine-functionalized tetraphenylpyrazine: facile preparation and multifaceted functionalities
Triphenylamine-functionalized tetraphenylpyrazines were facilely prepared and their multi-functional properties were thoroughly investigated.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2901-2908
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03299G
Multiresponsive luminescent dicyanodistyrylbenzenes and their photochemistry in solution and in bulk
Multiresponsive luminescence and photochemical activity (Z/E isomerization and/or photodimerization) in solution and in the liquid crystal phase are reported with dicyanodistyryl-based molecules.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2886-2893
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02852C
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Tuning BODIPY molecular rotors into the red: sensitivity to viscosity vs. temperature
We demonstrate that red emitting BODIPY dyes structurally similar to ‘molecular rotors’ are sensitive to environmental temperature rather than viscosity.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2828-2833
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02954F
The impact of electrostatic interactions on ultrafast charge transfer at Ag29 nanoclusters–fullerene and CdTe quantum dots–fullerene interfaces
We report how electrostatic interactions significantly impact charge transfer at CdTe QDs/fullerene interfaces.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2894-2900
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02927A
Solution-processable, star-shaped bipolar tetraphenylethene derivatives for the fabrication of efficient nondoped OLEDs
Star-shaped tetraphenylethene derivatives containing electron-donor and acceptor groups are synthesized and utilized in solution-processed nondoped OLEDs.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2775-2783
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02949J
Modulation of the fluorescence properties of diketopyrrolopyrroles via various electron-rich substituents
Electron-donating functionalities allow modulation of the emission properties of diketopyrrolopyrroles.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2877-2885
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03190G
Tetraaryl pyrenes: photophysical properties, computational studies, crystal structures, and application in OLEDs
Nine 1,3,6,8-tetraarylpyrenes were prepared and characterized for OLED-based blue-light emission.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3041-3058
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02849C
Shape-selective, stoichiometric sensing of fatty acids with a mixed polydiacetylene liposome
A mixed polymerized liposome discriminates fatty acids depending on their overall shape and with a discrete binding stoichiometry.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2871-2876
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02770E
Indene-1,3-dionemethylene-4H-pyran derivatives containing alkoxy chains of various lengths: aggregation-induced emission enhancement, mechanofluorochromic properties and solvent-induced emission changes
Indene-1,3-dionemethylene-4H-pyran derivatives exhibiting alkoxy-chain-length-dependent optical properties.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2862-2870
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02932E
β-Iminoenolate boron complex with terminal triphenylamine exhibiting polymorphism and mechanofluorochromism
Two types of crystals are gained from the β-iminoenolate boron complex, and the molecular packing mode can be memorized during mechanofluorochromic processes.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2854-2861
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC02386F
Preparation of Bodipy–ferrocene dyads and modulation of the singlet/triplet excited state of bodipy via electron transfer and triplet energy transfer
Bodipy–ferrocene dyads were prepared for reversible electrochemical switching of the singlet excited state (fluorescence), as well as the triplet excited states of Bodipy.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2843-2853
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01222H
AIEgens for real-time naked-eye sensing of hydrazine in solution and on a paper substrate: structure-dependent signal output and selectivity
AIEgens for real-time naked-eye sensing of hydrazine in solution and on a paper substrate are reported with a structure-dependent signal output and selectivity.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2834-2842
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01496D
A dual responsive “turn-on” fluorophore for orthogonal selective sensing of biological thiols and hydrogen peroxide
A dual responsive probe capable of generating two different responses upon reacting with thiols and H2O2 in a highly selective manner was developed.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 2761-2774
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01465D
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Correction: Tetraaryl pyrenes: photophysical properties, computational studies, crystal structures, and application in OLEDs
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 3059-3059
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6TC90031C
About this collection
Molecular fluorophores may be minimally or dramatically affected by their environments. When the effect is significant, the shape, intensity, and decay rate of the fluorescence can provide valuable information about the nature of that environment. Nevertheless, most fluorophores undergo modest responses upon changes in environment, and such changes are not always readily understood on the basis of ordinary environmental interactions. It is important to understand how the sensitivity of the photophysics and photochemistry of various chromophores and their fluorescence recovery can be manipulated to obtain new probes of wide utility in photophysics and fluorescent sensors.
Guest edited by Dr Kyril Solntsev (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA) and Professor Ben Zhong Tang (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong), this themed issue covers all aspects of the recent exciting progress in shape-responsive fluorophores, and highlights remarkable contributions made by the leading scientists in this important research area, as well as the broad impacts of this novel class of fluorophores.