Recent Progress in Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Organic Small Molecule Inorganic Nanocomposites

Fluorescent organic-inorganic nanocomposites have attracted more and more attention in the fields of chemical and biological sensing, biological imaging, energy materials, etc., due to their simple preparation, good biocompatibility and excellent imaging performance.Fluorescence quenching often occurs when traditional fluorescent organic small molecules are combined with inorganic materials, however, organic molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, which show high luminescence quantum yields in the aggregated state, provide opportunities for fluorescent organic-inorganic nanocomposites.Because of the unique advantages of the AIE fluorophore-functionalized inorganic nanomaterials, a great deal of research has been carried out on the design, synthesis and applications of such composite materials.The recent progress in the organic-inorganic composites of AIE-active organic small molecules and various types of inorganic nanomaterials (metal nanoparticles, perovskites, layered materials, oxides and sulfides, etc.) is summarized.In particular, the typical applications of these nanocomposites in chemical sensing, biosensing, bioimaging, drug transport, catalysis, photothermal therapy and energy materials are summarized.The prospects of these AIE-active organic-inorganic nanocomposites are also discussed.