Vessels based on cyclodextrin polymers promote aggregation induced emission

In this study, we exploit the confinement effect of cyclodextrin-based polymers to achieve highly enhanced fluorescence properties of luminogens like tetraphenylethene (TPE) and 1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene (TPC) in the solid state. The resulting materials achieving values of fluorescence quantum yields, ϕ_F = 60 % and 81 % respectively, have potential applications in fields such as chemistry, biology and more interestingly, materials science, particularly where high concentrations of fluorophores are required without loss of photophysical properties, due to aggregation-caused quenching. The strategy developed allows both modulation of vessel morphology and control over the photophysical properties of the final material by i) controlling the solvent or solvent mixture used for the luminogen transport within the polymer matrix and ii) varying the cross-linking ratio in the polymeric synthesis. Detailed morphological and photophysical characterisations of these materials are presented, confirming their enhanced luminescence performance in the solid state without requiring external input such as temperature, pH or pressure.