Tetraphenylethene (TPE) modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS): unadulterated monomer emission, aggregation-induced emission and nanostructural self-assembly modulated by the flexible spacer between POSS and TPE.

Mono-TPE modified POSS molecules, in which the flexible spacers between TPE and POSS moieties control their self-assembly and aggregation, exhibit a unique unadulterated monomer emission in organic solvents as well as an AIE emission in THF/water.