AIE-active macromolecules: designs, performances, and applications

Macromolecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics as emerging soft luminescent materials have gained increasing attention owing to their facile formulation, good processability, high brightness in aggregate and solid states, wide functionality, and smart responsiveness, with great potential in an array of application fields. In this review, we systematically update the most recent advances in different AIE-active macromolecules like linear, hyperbranched, star-shaped, crosslinked, supramolecular, porous, and hybrid macromolecules. The special focus is on revealing the relationship between structures and properties, and how the AIE-active macromolecules take an important role in diverse applications like sensors, optoelectronics, therapeutics, printing, bioimaging, pollution elimination, and stimuli-responsive devices. We hope this review serves not only as a handbook for interested students, scientists, etc., but also and more importantly triggers significant progress of AIE-active macromolecules in the future.