Recent Advances and Progress for the Fabrication and Surface Modification of AIE-active Organic-inorganic Luminescent Composites

Organic dyes based hybrid organic-inorganic luminescent nanomaterials with high quantum efficiency, good physical or chemical stability, and favorable biocompatibility, have attracted growing attention recently because of their important applications in the areas of biomedical imaging, chemical sensors, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Nevertheless, conventional fluorescence molecules suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) when they are doped into inorganic nanomaterials. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is an abnormal and intriguing fluorescent phenomenon that has aroused increasing interest for various applications especially in biomedical fields. Compared with conventional organic dyes, the AIE-active molecules will emit more intense fluorescence in their aggregates or solid states. It provides an elegant route to overcome the drawbacks of conventional organic molecules. Over the past few decades, the fabrication and surface modification of various organic-inorganic luminescent composites doped with AIE-active molecules have been reported. Therefore, it is highly desirable to summarize these advances. In this review, recent advances and progress in constructing various AIEgens-doped organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites and their subsequent surface modification were summarized. We hope this review could further promote the research of AIE-active functional materials.