AIE active TPE mesogens with p6mm columnar and Im3m cubic mesophases and white light emission property

The discotic tetraphenylethylene (TPE) mesogens composing of a TPE core surrounded by four flexible 1,2,3-triazole dendritic paddles were synthesized efficiently via CuAAC click reaction. Interesting such TPE mesogens can self-assemble into not only the hexagonal columnar phase but also the rarely observed 3D micellar Im3¯m cubic phase in their bulk states, as well as organogels with spherulitic or porous morphologies in organic solvents. AIE effects are observed in different aggregation states of such TPE mesogens. When such TPE mesogens are dispersed in nematic LC 5CB, dichroic ratio values up to 6.34 are obtained. Furthermore the emission colors of both pure TPE mesogens and the doped gel formed by doping TPE mesogen with DPP dye are tunable. Remarkably, TPE/12+DPP/2C8 complex can exhibit stable white light emission (WLE) in gel state and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) film.