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Chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) efficiency can be enhanced by confining CRET donors and acceptors within nanoscale spaces. However, this enhanced efficiency is often affected by uncertainties stemming from the random distribution of CRET donors and acceptors in such confined environments. In this study, a novel confined nanospace was created through the surfactant modification of carbon dots (CDs) exhibiting aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. Hydrophobic CRET donors could be effectively confined within this nanospace. The distance between the CRET donors and acceptors could be controlled by anchoring the AIE‐CDs as the CRET acceptors, resulting in significantly improved CRET efficiency. Furthermore, this AIE‐CDs‐based CRET system was successfully applied to the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rainwater, showcasing its potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to probe the coordination number (CN) because it is a crucial factor to ensure the catalytic capability of single‐atom catalysts (SACs). Currently, synchrotron X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is widely used to measure the CN. However, the scarcity of synchrotron X‐ray source and complicated data analysis restrict its wide applications in determining the CN of SACs. In this contribution, we have developed a d‐band center‐regulated acetone cataluminescence (CTL) probe for a rapid screening of the CN of Pt‐SACs. It is disclosed that the CN‐triggered CTL is attributed to the fact that the increased CN could induce the downward shift of d‐band center position, which assists the acetone adsorption and promotes the subsequent catalytic reaction. In addition, the universality of the proposed acetone‐CTL probe is verified by determining the CN of Fe‐SACs. This work has opened a new avenue for exploring an alternative to synchrotron XAS for the determination of CN of SACs and even conventional metal catalysts through d‐band center‐regulated CTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationic amphiphile aggregates exhibit superior antibacterial activity than monomers. However, the antimicrobial mechanism of aggregates has not been well understood because it is difficult to distinguish and monitor aggregate and monomer in antimicrobial process. Herein, three bola‐type cationic amphiphiles with aggregation‐induced emission property have been developed to show distinguishable fluorescence in their monomer and aggregate. The hydrophilicity of monomer and the stability of aggregate are finely tuned by tailoring the linkers between two quaternary ammonium end groups and tetraphenylethylene skeleton. The sensitive fluorescence switching of monomer and aggregate achieves the quantitative monitoring of dynamic interaction of three amphiphiles with bacteria. The aggregates with cationic charges first attach to bacterial surface, and the monomers subsequently dissociate from aggregates to penetrate bacterial membrane. Further, our results reveal the vital role of stability of aggregates during antimicrobial process, shedding light on the rational design of high‐efficient antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of an advanced micellar catalysis system, the reaction sites in micelles determine its catalytic performances. However, the intrinsic polarity gradient of micelles anchors the reactants in the fixed regions, leading to an unmet challenge to steer the reaction sites to the optimal ones. To overcome this limitation, a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopic ruler is established to position the true sites of reactants in micellar catalysis by using tetraphenylethylene (TPE) in the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) micelles as the FRET donor and Nile red as the FRET acceptor. Subsequently, the customizable TPE steric barriers in the AIE micelles are apt to mediate the reactants into the polar micellar surface, the semipolar palisade layer, or the nonpolar internal layer, achieving the corresponding catalytic efficiencies. Additionally, the universality of steric barrier‐steered reaction sites in micellar catalysis is further demonstrated by the simple incorporation of small nonpolar molecules into the commercially available surfactants. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the design of steric barriers to steer the reaction sites in micellar catalysis. These findings open up attractive perspectives for the exploration of new classes of efficient micellar catalysis systems in a variety of reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the endeavor to mimic natural light‐harvesting systems (LHSs), a persistent challenge has been the tendency of synthetic materials to adopt spherical architectures rather than the desired multitubular structures found in nature. In this study, a novel carboxylbetaine‐type zwitterionic surfactant with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties is designed. By coassembling with anionic surfactants, multiwalled tubules comprising bilayer membranes ≈5 nm thick are successfully constructed. With AIE fluorophores densely packed at the center, their AIE properties are triggered to serve as an efficient antenna for light harvesting and energy transfer. This facilitated high antenna effects via energy transfer from cyan fluorescent donor to yellow fluorescent acceptor and then to red fluorescent acceptor. Additionally, the emission color can be adjusted from blue to red by manipulating the donor/acceptor/acceptor ratio, with pure white‐light emission achievable at specific ratios. This achievement not only realizes the construction of efficient sequential LHSs but also offers inspiration for the future design of artificial multitubular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its birth in 1967, the utilization of chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) has made substantial progress in a variety of fields for its unique features. However, the quantitative relationship between CRET efficiency and donor–acceptor distance has not yet been determined owing to the difficulty in designing the variable lengths between chemiluminescent donors and acceptors. Herein, we synthesized three kinds of tetraphenylethene (TPE)‐anchored cationic surfactants with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. For the first time, it is quantitatively demonstrated that the CRET efficiency is inversely proportional to the sixth power of distance between luminol donors and TPE acceptors. The details disclosed in this contribute have provided the solid evidence that CRET follows Förster resonance theory. Our strategy would build a promising platform to control donor–acceptor distance, allowing to the interdisciplinary applications of CRET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solubilization locations play a critical role in developing advanced surfactants and improving solubilization power in micelle‐based applications. However, the current polarity‐based techniques for measuring solubilization locations could come to conflicting conclusions. The key challenge is the unpredictable polarities in the micellar microenvironment. Now, an approach that is independent of micellar polarities is used to measure solubilization locations by covalently linking tetraphenylethylene (TPE) to the alkyl chain end of cationic surfactants. The solubilization locations of solubilized acceptors in the TPE‐cored spherical micelles were accurately measured by calculating the Förster resonance energy transfer distance between anchored TPE donors and solubilized acceptors. Solubilization locations of solubilized substances in the micellar interior and at the micellar surface depend on their size and hydrophobicity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solid‐state luminescence materials have shown great promise in many forefront areas of modern chemistry. However, the well‐developed organic luminescent solids usually provoke a mass of synthetic steps. To better utilize their performances, the development of simple strategies for host materials is a goal of general concern. Herein, a series of highly efficient solid‐state luminescence materials are attained with aid of one‐step acidification of commercially available molecules. The mechanism demonstrates that the luminous efficiency of the solid‐state molecules is efficiently improved due to the synergy from the emergence of cation–π interaction and the formation of excimer. The cation–π interaction replaces π–π packing, leading to the formation of dimers with higher rigidity in solid state accompanied by red‐shifted emissions. Therefore, this one‐step acidification design concept will light the great passion of scientists for the fabrication of cation−π‐triggered analogous organic solid‐state luminescence materials with different colors by changing the substituents on benzene moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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