Synthesis, Aggregation-Induced Emission, and Liquid Crystalline Structure of Tetraphenylethylene-Surfactant Complex via Ionic Self-Assembly

A novel tetraphenylethylene material with liquid crystalline (LC) helical structure and aggregation induced emission (AIE) property was prepared by ionic self assembly (ISA). The AIE activity, phase behavior, self assembly structure, and molecular packing behavior of the complex were then elucidated via a combination of different experimental techniques such as UV vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, one- and two-dimensional X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results reveal that the ISA complex possesses high-efficiency luminescent property with quantum yield as high as 46% in solid state. Meanwhile, the complex could self-assemble into different interesting structures which are sensitive to peripheral chain motions. During heating, the complex takes a low-ordered helical supramolecular structure at ambient temperature and then forms another LC phase with high-ordered helical molecular stacking. These ordered hierarchical structures, in combination with the liquid crystallinity and excellent AIE property of the ISA complex, make it a promising material for fabrication of luminescent devices.National Natural Science Foundation of China [21304069, 21304048]; Youth Science Foundation [14JCQNJC02900]; Foundation of Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences; Natural Science Foundation of TianjinSCI(E)ARTICLErenxiangkui@tju.edu.cn4827577-2758612