Recent advances in aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active tetraphenylethylene-modified luminophores with mechanochromic luminescence characteristics

Mechanochromic luminophores that display luminescent changes upon exposure to external mechanical force have received considerable attention due to their promising applications in numerous fields including mechano-sensors and data recording. High brightness aggregative-state emission has great significance for achieving effective applications of mechanochromic luminogenic molecules, and luminophores with aggregation-induced emission effect are capable of exhibiting strong aggregative-state luminescence. In this review, we summarize the aggregation-induced emission-active tetraphenylethylene-functionalized compounds and complexes with mechanochromic luminescence characteristics, as well as discuss their mechanoluminochromic mechanisms. This review will provide a valuable reference for the potential opportunities and future challenges in this fascinating scientific field.