Manipulation of the aggregation and deaggregation of tetraphenylethylene and silole fluorophores by amphiphiles: emission modulation and sensing applications.

In this Feature Article, we have summarized the recent advances in the fluorescence modulation of tetraphenylethylene and silole fluorophores by manipulating the respective aggregation/deaggregation with amphiphiles. These include (i) the assembly of neutral tetraphenylethylene analogues with the aid of an ionic amphiphile, (ii) the aggregation of ionic tetraphenylethylene and silole induced by amphiphiles, and (iii) bio/chemosensors based on the aggregation/deaggregation of AIE fluorophores tuned by ionic amphiphiles.