Recent advances in AIEgen-based crystalline porous materials for chemical sensing

Abstract

Aggregation-induced emission-based luminogens (AIEgens) have aroused enormous interest due to their unique high fluorescence in a condensed state. To further explore their potential applications, such as chemical monitoring, immobilization of AIE molecules has been widely studied with a variety of supports. Crystalline porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, hydrogen-bonded organic framework, and organic cages, demonstrate well-controlled structures, large surface areas, and promising stabilities, thus providing a perfect platform for AIE agents loading. Outstanding chemical sensing performances are achieved based on these AIE-active crystalline porous materials, such as high sensitivity, short response time, selective identification, and high recyclability, which provide a new alternative to readily detect various hazardous molecules. Furthermore, precise structures of AIEgen-based crystalline porous materials offer an easy way to investigate detection mechanisms. This mini-review will provide a brief overview of AIEgen-based crystalline porous materials for detection and then address how to improve sensing performances remarkably.