Chem. J. Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5): 20260060.doi: 10.7503/cjcu20260060

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress on Theoretical Study of Organic Luminescence Enhancement Induced by Confined Environments

JIAO Haili1,2, ZHENG Xiaoyan2()   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Advanced Transducers and Intelligent Control System,Ministry of Education,College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering,Taiyuan University of Technology,Taiyuan 030024,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Cluster Science,Ministry of Education,State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near?space,Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Molecular Materials and High?throughput Manufacturing,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Beijing Institute of Technology,Beijing 100081,China
  • Received:2026-01-30 Online:2026-05-10 Published:2026-03-25
  • Contact: ZHENG Xiaoyan E-mail:xiaoyanzheng@bit.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22522301);the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22173006);the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China(B2025105017)

Abstract:

Aggregation-induced emission(AIE) molecules provide a promising way for the application and development of solid-state organic luminescent materials. However, the luminescent quantum efficiency of AIE in dilute solution is often limited by non-radiative decay caused by intramolecular motions. Constructing “confined environments” can effectively suppress their non-radiative decay pathways, thereby achieving luminescent enhancement. Currently, a variety of experimental methods have been developed to regulate luminescence through confined environments, with different underlying mechanisms, yet the underlying mechanism at the microscopic level remain unclear. This paper summarizes recent advances in multiscale theoretical simulations that elucidate the mechanisms of AIE luminescence enhancement in different confined environments. It systematically discusses how various confined environments, such as amorphous aggregation, (co-)crystallization, high pressure, host-guest inclusion, cell- membrane, and photochemical reactions, regulate molecular conformation, packing arrangements, electronic structures, and excited-state dynamics. The structure-property relationships among molecular structure, confined environment, and luminescent performance are clarified, providing a theoretical understanding of the microscopic origin of luminescence enhancement induced by confined environments. This work offers a theoretical foundation for the design and performance optimization of high-performance AIE materials, thereby promoting their applications in optoelectronics, bioimaging, and sensing.

Key words: Aggregation-induced emission, Confined environment, Multiscale simulation, Non-radiative decay, Photophysical property

CLC Number: 

TrendMD: