Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Efficiency and Donor–Acceptor Distance: from Qualitative to Quantitative

Since its birth in 1967, the utilization of chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) has made substantial progress in a variety of fields for its unique features. However, the quantitative relationship between CRET efficiency and donor-acceptor distance has not yet been determined owing to the difficulty in designing the variable lengths between chemiluminescent donors and acceptors. Herein, we synthesized three kinds of tetraphenylethene (TPE)-anchored cationic surfactants with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. For the first time, it is quantitatively demonstrated that the CRET efficiency is inversely proportional to the sixth power of distance between luminol donors and TPE acceptors. The details disclosed in this contribute have provided the solid evidence that CRET follows Förster resonance theory. Our strategy would build a promising platform to control donor-acceptor distance, allowing to the interdisciplinary applications of CRET.