Recent advances in boron-based room-temperature phosphorescence materials: design strategies, mechanisms, and applications

Abstract

Boron-based room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have garnered considerable attention due to their unique photophysical properties and diverse application potential. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of systematic discussion on the design strategies, excited state control mechanisms, and practical applications of such molecules remain scarce. This review systematically analyzes the structure-property relationships in boron-based RTP materials, focusing on the influence of key structural factors such as their coordination modes, the number and position of substituents, and the design of host-guest systems. These factors enable precise control over the phosphorescence lifetime and emission wavelength of the materials. Boron-based RTP materials demonstrate promising applications particularly in anti-counterfeiting, light-emitting display, and biological imaging. Moreover, this review outlines future research directions and challenges, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of novel RTP materials.