Aggregate Science: From Structures to Properties

TY - JOUR

T1 - Aggregate Science

T2 - From Structures to Properties

AU - Zhang, Haoke

AU - Zhao, Zheng

AU - Turley, Andrew T.

AU - Wang, Lin

AU - McGonigal, Paul R.

AU - Tu, Yujie

AU - Li, Yuanyuan

AU - Wang, Zhaoyu

AU - Kwok, Ryan T.K.

AU - Lam, Jacky W.Y.

AU - Tang, Ben Zhong

N1 - Funding Information: This article is part of the Advanced Materials Hall of Fame article series, which recognizes the excellent contributions of leading researchers to the field of materials science. H.Z., Z.Z., and A.T.T. contributed equally to this work. The authors are grateful to financial support from the National Science Foundation of China (21788102), the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (16308016, C6009‐17G, and AHKUST 605/16), the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong (AoE/P‐03/08 and AoE/P‐02/12), the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC‐CNERC14SC01 and ITS/254/17), and the Science and Technology Plan of Shenzhen (JCYJ20160229205601482 and JCY20170818113602462). The authors also thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (EPSRC) for a doctoral training grant awarded to A.T.T. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

PY - 2020/9/1

Y1 - 2020/9/1

N2 - Molecular science entails the study of structures and properties of materials at the level of single molecules or small interacting complexes of molecules. Moving beyond single molecules and well-defined complexes, aggregates (i.e., irregular clusters of many molecules) serve as a particularly useful form of materials that often display modified or wholly new properties compared to their molecular components. Some unique structures and phenomena such as polymorphic aggregates, aggregation-induced symmetry breaking, and cluster excitons are only identified in aggregates, as a few examples of their exotic features. Here, by virtue of the flourishing research on aggregation-induced emission, the concept of “aggregate science” is put forward to fill the gaps between molecules and aggregates. Structures and properties on the aggregate scale are also systematically summarized. The structure–property relationships established for aggregates are expected to contribute to new materials and technological development. Ultimately, aggregate science may become an interdisciplinary research field and serves as a general platform for academic research.

AB - Molecular science entails the study of structures and properties of materials at the level of single molecules or small interacting complexes of molecules. Moving beyond single molecules and well-defined complexes, aggregates (i.e., irregular clusters of many molecules) serve as a particularly useful form of materials that often display modified or wholly new properties compared to their molecular components. Some unique structures and phenomena such as polymorphic aggregates, aggregation-induced symmetry breaking, and cluster excitons are only identified in aggregates, as a few examples of their exotic features. Here, by virtue of the flourishing research on aggregation-induced emission, the concept of “aggregate science” is put forward to fill the gaps between molecules and aggregates. Structures and properties on the aggregate scale are also systematically summarized. The structure–property relationships established for aggregates are expected to contribute to new materials and technological development. Ultimately, aggregate science may become an interdisciplinary research field and serves as a general platform for academic research.

KW - aggregate science

KW - aggregation-induced emission

KW - structure–property relationship

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088825130&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/adma.202001457

DO - 10.1002/adma.202001457

M3 - Review article

C2 - 32734656

AN - SCOPUS:85088825130

SN - 0935-9648

VL - 32

JO - Advanced Materials

JF - Advanced Materials

IS - 36

M1 - 2001457

ER -