Development of a Novel Solid State Organic Fluorophore: Excited-State Aromatization-Induced Structural Planarization

Solid-state emission is pivotal for the functionality of organic compounds in opto-electronic applications. Yet, tailoring the emission characteristics of existing solid-state emissive organic frameworks is a challenging task, primarily due to their intricate structure-activity interplay. In this study, we introduce an innovative family of solid-state luminogens, centered around the dibenzosuberenylidene core. These luminogens are characterized by a remarkable excited-state aromatization-induced structural planarization (ESAISP) behaviour. This unique feature allows for the modulation of their fluorescence properties, including color and intensity, through simple structural alterations, opening new avenues in the development of organic advanced functional materials.