Facile construction of aggregation-induced emission molecular liquids via Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction for green fluorescent ink

Solvent-free luminescent molecular liquids (LMLs), which exhibit nonvolatile fluidic nature and active optoelectronic properties, were widely used. For further development, we introduced siloxane units into AIE molecules, designed and synthesized TPE derivatives with siloxane side chains via facile Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction. The obtained AIE molecular liquids exhibit unique photophysical properties. Compared with the obtained alkyl TPE-solids, siloxane TPE show liquid state, which proves that the siloxane units have stronger liquefaction effect than alkyl. Viscosity test shows that siloxane TPE-liquids has far more lower viscosity and better fluidity than the long-chain alkyl molecular liquids in previous research. All those properties are attributed to the weak interaction between flexible molecular chains of siloxane. Besides, fluorescence test shows temperature responsiveness of siloxane TPE-liquids. We developed this low-viscosity nonvolatile AIE molecular liquid as green fluorescent ink.