Multifunctional Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Small Organic Molecules

doi:10.6023/cjoc202510014

Abstract

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials have attracted significant research interest in recent years due to their promising applications in areas such as 3D displays, etc. Among various material systems, small organic molecules have emerged as a pivotal platform for constructing CPL-active materials, owing to their well-defined structure-property relationships. Meanwhile, room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials can effectively utilize triplet excitons, while aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials suppress the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) common to traditional fluorophores. Consequently, the integration of RTP, TADF, and AIE functionalities into CPL materials has not only substantially enhanced their optical and device performance but also significantly broadened their application scope. This review begins with a brief introduction to CPL small organic molecules, then focuses on the design strategies, optical properties, and device performance of such multifunctional CPL systems. Finally, it concludes by summarizing the current challenges and future research directions in this field.

Key words: circularly polarized luminescence, room-temperature phosphorescence, thermally activated delayed fluorescence, aggregation-induced emission, small organic molecules

Cite this article

Mengyuan Zhang, Zhimin Yuan. Multifunctional Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Small Organic Molecules[J]. Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2026, 46(5): 1871-1882.

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Fig. & Tab. 15

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of fluorescence/phosphorescence Ex.=excitation; Fluo.=fluorescence; Phos.=phosphorescence; ISC=intersystem crossing; RISC=reverse intersystem crossing.

Figure 2. (a) Chemical structures of (R)-1, (S)-1 and β-estradiol; (b) Chemical structure of (R)-2

Figure 3. (a) Chemical structures of (S)-3 and (R)-3; (b) Chemical structures of (R)-4 and (S)-4

Figure 4. (a) Chemical structures of 5~8; (b) Chemical structure of 9

Figure 5. (a) Chemical structure of (R)-10; (b) Chemical structures of 11 and 12

Figure 6. Chemical structures of 13~18

Compd.	λ_PL^a/nm	FWHM^a/nm	ΔE_ST^a/eV	Φ_F^b/%	\|g_lum\|^c/10^－3
13	497	26	0.03	90.9	2.9
14	505	28	0.05	86.5	4.7
15	495	25	0.03	92.0	1.9
16	503	29	0.10	92.7	1.7
17	509	29	0.09	91.2	5.4
18	496	25	0.11	92.8	0.6

Table 1. Photophysical and chiroptical properties of 13~18

Figure 7. Chemical structures of 19 and 20

Figure 8. Chemical structures of 21~23

Figure 9. Chemical structures of 24~26

Figure 10. (a) Chemical structures of 27 and 28; (b) Chemical structure of 29; (c) Chemical structure of 30

Figure 11. (a) Chemical structure of 31; (b) Chemical structures of (R/S)-32 and (R/S)-33

Figure 12. (a) Chemical structure of 34; (b) Chemical structure of 35

Figure 13. Chemical structures of 36 and 37

Figure 14. (a) Chemical structure of 38; (b) Chemical structure of (R)-39

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