Bright functional rotaxanes

As a hot topic in research, various rotaxanes continue to be constructed. This tutorial review focuses mainly on bright rotaxanes with functional properties, which have been developed in recent years: fluorescent rotaxanes, rotaxanes as logic gates and information storage devices, gelation of rotaxanes, rotaxanes on solid surfaces, sensory rotaxanes, as well as rotaxanes related to biology and so on. Novel synthetic protocols towards several functional rotaxanes are also illustrated.