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Reverse Thinking of the Aggregation‐Induced Emission Principle: Amplifying Molecular Motions to Boost Photothermal Efficiency of Nanofibers **
Author(s) -
Li Haoxuan,
Wen Haifei,
Zhang Zhijun,
Song Nan,
Kwok Ryan T. K.,
Lam Jacky W. Y.,
Wang Lei,
Wang Dong,
Tang Ben Zhong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202008292
Subject(s) - photothermal therapy , nanofiber , nanotechnology , materials science , photoexcitation , core (optical fiber) , molecule , photothermal effect , optoelectronics , chemistry , composite material , atomic physics , excited state , physics , organic chemistry
Using reverse thinking of the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) principle, we demonstrate an ingenious and universal protocol for amplifying molecular motions to boost photothermal efficiency of fibers. Core–shell nanofibers having the olive oil solution of AIE‐active molecules as the core surrounded by PVDF‐HFP shell were constructed by coaxial electrospinning. The molecularly dissolved state of AIE‐active molecules allows them to freely rotate and/or vibrate in nanofibers upon photoexcitation and thus significantly elevates the proportion of non‐radiative energy dissipation, affording impressive heat‐generating efficiency. Photothermal evaluation shows that the core–shell nanofibers with excellent durability can reach up to 22.36 % of photothermal conversion efficiency, which is 26‐fold as the non‐core–shell counterpart. Such a core–shell fiber can be used for photothermal textiles and solar steam generation induced by natural sunlight with green and carbon‐zero emission.