Fluorescent photoswitching molecules have been explored for their potential applications in the fields of anticounterfeiting, super-resolution imaging, optical data storage, and sensor devices due to their fast response, reversibility, and fatigue resistance. The fluorescence switch of fluorescent photoswitching molecules requires a certain degree of spatial freedom, so compared to solution, achieving solid-state fluorescence switching is somewhat difficult. An effective method is to combine aggregation induced luminescence (AIE) molecules with fluorescent switching molecules through covalent bonds or supramolecular interactions, and the distorted conformation of AIE molecules can provide enough space for the configurational changes of fluorescent photoswitching molecules after light exposure, thus realizing solid-state fluorescent photoswitching. In this paper, we mainly review the application of this strategy in several typical photoswitching molecules to provide a feasible reference for the design of novel solid-state fluorescent photoswitching molecular systems, which is crucial for understanding the stimulus-response mechanism of solid-state photoswitching molecules, developing new materials, and expanding their applications.

Key words: photoswitch, aggregation-induced luminescence, fluorescence