An aggregation-induced-emission platform for direct visualization of interfacial dynamic self-assembly.

An in-depth understanding of dynamic interfacial self-assembly processes is essential for a wide range of topics in theoretical physics, materials design, and biomedical research. However, direct monitoring of such processes is hampered by the poor imaging contrast of a thin interfacial layer. We report in situ imaging technology capable of selectively highlighting self-assembly at the phase boundary in real time by employing the unique photophysical properties of aggregation-induced emission.

Highly fluorescent and photostable probe for long-term bacterial viability assay based on aggregation-induced emission.

Long-term tracking of bacterial viability is of great importance for monitoring the viability change of bacteria under storage, evaluating disinfection efficiency, as well as for studying the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of antibacterials. Most of the conventional viability dyes, however, suffer from high toxicity and/or poor photostability, making them unsuitable for long-term studies. In this work, an aggregation-induced emission molecule, TPE-2BA, which can differentiate dead and living bacteria and serve as a highly fluorescent and photostable probe for long-term viability assay.

Synthesis, structure, aggregation-induced emission, self-assembly, and electron mobility of 2,5-bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)-3,4-diphenylsiloles.

2,5-Bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)-3,4-diphenylsiloles with different 1,1-substituents [XYSi(CPh)(2) (C-C≡C-SiPh(3))(2)] (Ph=phenyl) were synthesized in high yields by the Sonogashira coupling of 2,5-dibromo-3,4-diphenylsiloles with triphenylsilylacetylene, and two of these were characterized crystallographically. Crystal structures and theoretical calculations showed that the new silole molecules had higher conjugation than 2,5-diarylsiloles. They possessed low HOMO and LUMO energy levels due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the triphenylsilylethynyl groups.