Mesogens with aggregation‐induced emission properties: Materials with a bright future

Abstract

Abstract Within the past two decades, chromophores, which show aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), have gained considerable attention with respect to the development of luminescent liquid crystals. In contrast to common luminogens, AIE emitters do not suffer from aggregation‐caused quenching of the emission in the solid state. In this review, we summarize the recent development in the field of AIE‐active liquid crystals and show first model devices, which already prove the application potential of these materials. Currently, three different approaches are followed, to get access to luminescent liquid crystals––namely the synthetic approach yielding luminescent mesogens, the doping approach, and the supramolecular approach, which will be described and discussed in detail in this review.

Keywords

• aggregation‐induced emission
• fluorescence
• liquid crystals
• materials
• mesogens