Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Zhang, Benzhao He, Yubing Hu, Parvej Alam, Haoke Zhang, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Stimuli-responsive AIEgens have shown great potential and impressive progress in various fields, with recent achievements summarized in terms of seven most representative stimulus types. By deciphering the key work principles behind them, new insights and guidelines are offered for the design of next-generation stimuli-responsive luminescent materials for broader applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qing Liu, Xian Chen, Zhibiao Zhou, Tingting Huang, Yanpei Wang, Sheng Xie, Zebing Zeng, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Compounds with a unique 3D molecular scaffolding structure show aggregation-induced emission (AIE) activity and bright solid-state blue luminescence, making them potential candidates for applications in chemical sensing and flexible optoelectronics.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wanting Yu, Xiaoxiao Yu, Zhenduo Qiu, Chengjian Xu, Mengyue Gao, Junjie Zheng, Junyan Zhang, Gang Wang, Yanhua Cheng, Meifang Zhu
Summary: The synergy between AIE and fibers enhances the performance beyond AIE alone and has diverse applications.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ting Han, Dingyuan Yan, Qian Wu, Nan Song, Haoke Zhang, Dong Wang
Summary: Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) refers to a photophysical effect where the luminescence of aggregates is stronger than that of the dispersed state. Over the past 20 years, AIE has evolved into a multidisciplinary research field that has greatly advanced the development of luminescent materials. Various AIE luminogens (AIEgens) have been developed, leading to significant achievements in mechanistic studies and high-tech applications.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Haohao Lu, Zhao Li, Xiaoming Qi, Lu Xu, Zhangyi Chi, Deng Duan, Md Zahidul Islam, Wenjun Wang, Xiaoxiong Jin, Yaofeng Zhu, Yaqin Fu, Li Cui, Yaozhong Zhuang, Yubing Dong
Summary: Carbon fiber felt (CFF) combined with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) has a wide range of applications in EMI shielding due to its high shielding effect and shape memory performance. This composite material plays a significant role in flexible electronic equipment and other frontier fields.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Haotian Bai, Wei He, Joe H. C. Chau, Zheng Zheng, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes poses a serious threat to human health, highlighting the urgent need for research and development of new antimicrobial systems and strategies. AIEgen-based biofunctional materials and systems offer rapid microbial detection, bacterial classification, and pathogen discrimination, aiding in the scientific study of antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tao Du, Xin Han, Xiuling Yan, Jiangwei Shang, Yao Li, Jianbin Song
Summary: The rational design and applications of MXene-based materials have led to significant progress in flexible sensors, such as wearable devices, soft robots, and smart medical equipment. By precisely engineering MXene and substrate materials, the mechanical properties and sensing sensitivity of the sensors can be improved, expanding the range of applications for MXene-based sensors. Therefore, a systematic and comprehensive review summarizing the progress of MXene-based sensor research is necessary based on these backgrounds.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mitsuaki Yamauchi, Miho Okaji, Naoki Aratani, Hiroko Yamada, Sadahiro Masuo
Summary: This study demonstrates a novel organic crystal material that exhibits reversible photoluminescence properties under light and heat stimulation. The material shows aggregation induced emission and the emission color can be controlled by photoirradiation and heating/cooling processes.
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Yongzhen Wang, Xiang Yu, Rulin Liu, Chao Zhi, Yaming Liu, Weiqiang Fan, Jiaguang Meng
Summary: Thermal-moisture comfort is a basic and essential need for the human body. Shape memory active fabrics can effectively regulate skin microenvironment and show great potential in intelligent thermal-moisture management by flexibly responding to environmental stimuli.
COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weiqiang Zhao, Fei Shao, Fuqin Sun, Zihao Su, Shiyong Liu, Ting Zhang, Meifang Zhu, Zunfeng Liu, Xiang Zhou
Summary: Neurons have excellent signal transmission capacity, inspiring the development of artificial neuron materials for wearable electronics and soft robotics. Sticky artificial spider silk made of a proton donor-acceptor hydrogel fiber is developed, which exhibits excellent mechanical properties, stickiness, and ion conductivity. The high spinning capacity of the hydrogel allows for a wide range of donor-acceptor combinations. This PrDA artificial spider silk has the potential to revolutionize the design of artificial neuron materials, bio-electrodes, and artificial synapses.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhenduo Qiu, Xiaoxiao Yu, Junyan Zhang, Chengjian Xu, Mengyue Gao, Yanhua Cheng, Meifang Zhu
Summary: This review focuses on the application of fibers and AIE materials in health protection. By constructing fibrous sensors and therapeutic fabrics, visualization of biomolecules and individual protection can be achieved. However, there are still challenges and future opportunities that need to be addressed and explored.
Article
Optics
Parthasarathy Gayathri, Sasikala Ravi, Subramanian Karthikeyan, Mehboobali Pannipara, Abdullah G. Al-Sehemi, Hussain D. Almalki, Dohyun Moon, Savarimuthu Philip Anthony
Summary: Triphenylamine (TPA) - acetophenone-based fluorophores with halogen substitution were synthesized and their influence on fluorescence properties in solution and in solid-state was investigated. The presence of halogen atoms significantly affected the fluorescence behavior, leading to tunable fluorescence, white light emission, and stimuli-induced reversible fluorescence switching. These studies demonstrate the potential of halogen atom substitution in modulating fluorescence properties and enabling reversible fluorescence switching.
JOURNAL OF LUMINESCENCE
(2023)
Review
Optics
Jianyu Zhang, Xueqian Zhao, Hanchen Shen, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Haoke Zhang, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This article reviews the strategies for achieving efficient white-light emission from pure organic aggregates, including single-component and multicomponent strategies. It introduces the single-component strategy from four aspects and summarizes doping, supramolecular assembly, and cocrystallization as strategies for multicomponent systems. The advanced applications of white-light emitters are also discussed.
ADVANCED PHOTONICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuzheng Wu, Pei Liu, Babak Mehrjou, Paul K. Chu
Summary: The discovery of antibiotics has saved many lives, but antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a problem in modern medicine. To address this issue, researchers are developing smart antibacterial materials to improve sterilization and reduce the risk of drug resistance. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for the research and development of these materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengbo Han, He Xu, Zhongfu An, Zheyi Cai, Zhengxu Cai, Hui Chao, Biao Chen, Ming Chen, Yu Chen, Zhenguo Chi, Shuting Dai, Dan Ding, Yuping Dong, Zhiyuan Gao, Weijiang Guan, Zikai He, Jingjing Hu, Rong Hu, Yixiong Hu, Qiuyi Huang, Miaomiao Kang, Danxia Li, Jisen Li, Shuzhen Li, Wenlang Li, Zhen Li, Xinlin Lin, Huaying Liu, Peiying Liu, Xiaoding Lou, Chao Lu, Dongge Ma, Hanlin Ou, Juan Ouyang, Qian Peng, Jun Qian, Anjun Qin, Jiamin Qu, Jianbing Shi, Zhigang Shuai, Lihe Sun, Rui Tian, Wenjing Tian, Bin Tong, Huiliang Wang, Dong Wang, He Wang, Tao Wang, Xiao Wang, Yucheng Wang, Shuizhu Wu, Fan Xia, Yujun Xie, Kai Xiong, Bin Xu, Dongpeng Yan, Haibo Yang, Qingzheng Yang, Zhiyong Yang, Lizhen Yuan, Wangzhang Yuan, Shuangquan Zang, Fang Zeng, Jiajie Zeng, Zhuo Zeng, Guoqing Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Xuepeng Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yufan Zhang, Zhijun Zhang, Juan Zhao, Zheng Zhao, Zihao Zhao, Zujin Zhao, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) refers to the unique phenomenon where non- or weakly emissive luminogens in dilute solutions emit intensely upon aggregation, solving the aggregation-caused quenching problem faced by traditional fluorophores. Over the past 20 years, AIE research has rapidly developed from restricting intramolecular rotations to intramolecular motions, and from AIE to aggregate science, leading to many original achievements in the field.
PROGRESS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Runfeng Lin, Junkai Liu, Weilin Xu, Zicheng Liu, Xiang He, Canze Zheng, Miaomiao Kang, Xue Li, Zhijun Zhang, Hai-Tao Feng, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Dong Wang, Ming Chen, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: In this work, a pyrazine-based near-infrared type I photosensitizer (PS) with remarkable donor-acceptor effect and efficient intramolecular motions was developed. The PS exhibited high photothermal conversion efficiency and strong hydroxyl radical generation due to its vigorous intramolecular motions. It also demonstrated excellent imaging-guided cancer synergistic therapy, stimulating the development of advanced PS and solid-state intramolecular motions for biomedical applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiangao Li, Miaomiao Kang, Zhijun Zhang, Xue Li, Weilin Xu, Dong Wang, Xike Gao, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: In this study, a precise dual-acceptor engineering strategy is used to integrate ultralong excitation wavelength, high extinction coefficient, and prominent photothermal conversion ability into a single photothermal agent. The optimized polymer SP4 shows desirable second near-infrared (NIR-II) absorption, an extremely high extinction coefficient, and satisfactory photothermal conversion behavior. SP4 NPs demonstrate unprecedented performance in 1064 nm laser-excited photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT), enabling precise tumor diagnosis and complete tumor elimination.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shixian Cao, Xiaoyuan Tian, Mingyue Cao, Jianguo Wang, Guangle Niu, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: A series of donor-acceptor-acceptor structured fluorescent acrylonitriles featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) were developed for low depletion power STED super-resolution imaging. These materials exhibited tunable near-infrared emissions, high fluorescence quantum yields, significant Stokes shifts, and large two-photon absorption cross-sections. They also showed solvatochromic effect and ultrahigh fluorescence quantum yields in low-polarity solvents.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bo Song, Jianyu Zhang, Jiadong Zhou, Anjun Qin, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This study develops a method to synthesize clusteroluminogens using water and manipulation of through-space interaction. It also demonstrates the in situ generation of high photoluminescence quantum yield polymeric films through water-involved interfacial polymerization. The synthesized polymeric film shows a vapor-triggered reversible mechanical response, making it a potential smart actuator.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianyu Zhang, Yujie Tu, Hanchen Shen, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Jianwei Sun, Haoke Zhang, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This study systematically illustrates the impacts of proximity effect and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) on luminescent behaviors of heterocyclic luminogens. The authors report a series of methylquinoxaline derivatives and reveal the energy level changes and coupling effects of the closely related (n,& pi;*) and (& pi;,& pi;*) states, which intrinsically regulate proximity effect and AIE behaviors. The results provide insights into the development of functional and responsive luminogens with AIE properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wentao Wang, Yumeng Gao, Wang Xu, Yan Xu, Ninglin Zhou, Yuanyuan Li, Ming Zhang, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This study presents a new approach for treating chronic wounds caused by bacterial infections. By using nanoparticles, this method can simultaneously scavenge inflammation, alleviate hypoxia conditions, and promote the penetration of therapeutic agents in wound tissues. Experimental results showed that this approach inhibits bacterial activities and its effectiveness was demonstrated in animal experiments.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Zhang, Wenjing Liu, Yangjing Liu, Jianyu Zhang, Pengfei Gao, Lei Zheng, Feng Xu, Guorui Jin, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: A simple yet efficient design strategy is discovered to enhance the absorptivity of AIEgens by introducing gold(I) unit. The integration of gold(I) confers the AIE ligand with much higher photothermal conversion efficiency, more superior NIR-II luminescence, and high-efficiency cancer therapeutic ability. The fabricated tumor-targeting nanoparticles achieve specific NIR-II tumorous imaging and high-efficiency cancer therapy via the synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingqi Jin, Yingke Lu, Xin Zhang, Xinyao Zhang, Dawei Li, Qingsheng Liu, Bingyao Deng, Haoxuan Li
Summary: This study establishes an inverted iceberg-inspired solar water generator (ISWG) that achieves efficient evaporation and vapor collection by utilizing the temperature difference between the floating evaporative section and the bulk water in the ISWG system. It demonstrates a high vapor collection rate and the potential for electricity generation, providing a promising solution to address global water scarcity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoning Li, Liangjing Tu, Mingxue Gao, Aisen Li, Yi Chen, Weijie Chi, Dongdong Zhang, Lian Duan, Yujun Xie, Ben Zhong Tang, Zhen Li
Summary: Exploring blue organic light emitting diodes (OLED) is a challenging yet important task. By fusing cyclohexane with quinoxaline, the electron-withdrawing ability and conjugation degree of the acceptor can be weakened, resulting in blue-shifted emission. Three blue to cyan fluorescent emitters (Me-DPA-TTPZ, tBu-DPA-TTPZ, and TPA-TTPZ) were designed and synthesized, exhibiting high photoluminescence quantum yields and thermal stability. OLEDs with TPA-TTPZ emitters demonstrated deep-blue (449 nm) and blue (468 nm) emission, validating their potential as blue emitters in OLEDs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuelu He, Yuan Luo, Yanying Li, Yuanbo Pan, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Lulu He, Xiaolin Duan, Pengfei Zhang, Aiguo Wu, Ben Zhong Tang, Juan Li
Summary: In this study, a multifunctional near-infrared (NIR)-driven theranostic agent was developed by combining aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers TIND with rare-earth doping nanoparticles (RENPs) NaGdF4:Nd/Yb/Tm for up/down conversion luminescence. This theranostic agent was further modified with D-type neuropeptide (NPY)-N-D for blood-brain barrier crossing and glioma targeting. Under 808-nm light irradiation, the down-conversion NIR-II luminescence enabled the localization of glioma, while the upconversion NIR-I luminescence activated the AIE photosensitizers to inhibit orthotopic glioma tumor growth in situ. These findings suggest that the integration of D-type neuropeptide, AIE photosensitizers, and RENPs could be a promising approach for in vivo NIR-II fluorescence image-guided through-skull photodynamic therapy of brain tumors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengcheng Zhou, Zeyu Ding, Weijiang Guan, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: By tuning the hydrophilicity and stability of monomers and aggregates through tailoring the linkers between two quaternary ammonium end groups and tetraphenylethylene skeleton, three bola-type cationic amphiphiles with aggregation-induced emission property were developed to selectively monitor the interaction with bacteria using sensitive fluorescence switching. The results showed that the aggregates with cationic charges first attach to bacterial surface, and then the monomers dissociate from aggregates to penetrate bacterial membrane. The study revealed the vital role of aggregate stability during antimicrobial process, providing insights into the rational design of highly efficient antimicrobials.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michelle M. S. Lee, Eric Y. Yu, Joe H. C. Chau, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Dong Wang, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Fluorescence bioimaging is a sensitive, selective, and non-invasive method for visualizing biological processes on the microscale. However, conventional organic fluorophores have limitations in long-term monitoring and tracing of intracellular processes due to their poor photostability and low signal-to-noise ratio. On the contrary, AIE luminogens (AIEgens) possess photophysical properties that enable real-time and long-term intracellular dynamics visualization. This review summarizes the recent development of AIE probes for unveiling intracellular processes, providing inspiration and directions for the future design and development of AIEgens.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dingyuan Yan, Yue Huang, Jianyu Zhang, Qian Wu, Guangjie Song, Jian Ji, Qiao Jin, Dong Wang, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This research presents the design of butterfly-shaped aggregation-induced emission luminogens for imaging-assisted photothermal obliteration of bacterial biofilms. The newly developed nanoparticles show excellent antibacterial efficiency and are effective in treating different models of bacterial infections.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yupeng Shi, Yaning Xia, Mengyang Zhou, Qiuna Shi, Li Meng, Chuen Kam, Hui Gao, Jingliang Cheng, Ben Zhong Tang, Sijie Chen, Engui Zhao
Summary: This study presents a facile assembly strategy for the fabrication of starch-based luminescent nanoaggregates using starch as the host material and aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) as guest molecules. Highly luminescent nanoparticles with small sizes, high water dispersibility, and low cytotoxicity can be prepared on a large scale through simple procedures under mild conditions. The resulting nano-assemblies demonstrate significantly enhanced fluorescence intensities, reduced susceptibility to photobleaching, and low cytotoxicity.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guangliang Tian, Kangli Xu, Yaoli Huang, Xinxin You, Wenhua Yu, Honggang Liu, Juan Li, Jiawei Liu, Xiangyu Jin, Haoxuan Li, Qinfei Ke, Chen Huang
Summary: In this study, an all-fabric piezoresistive sensor with excellent sensing performances and reliability was fabricated based on conductive organic/inorganic mixture and 3D nonwoven. The sensor exhibited a broad sensing range, high sensitivity, fast response/relaxation time, excellent reproducibility, and good resistance to harsh environments. It was demonstrated to be suitable for real-time monitoring of human motions and showed potential in wireless monitoring and spatial pressure recognition.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
