Reevaluating the Solution Photophysics of Tetraphenylethylene at the Origin of their Aggregation-Induced Emission Properties

A detailled study on the physicochemical processes taking place at the excited state of tetrapheyleneethylene derivatives, accounting for their spectacular well known AIE properties. Fo the firts time, quantum yield measurement allow to precsiley establish the implication of the different events (nonradiative dissipation, E/Z photoisomerization, Photocyclisation) responsive for full luminescence quenching in solution. Evidence is brought that E/Z photoisomerization is the dominant and almost exclusive mechanism at the origin of the phenomenon