Our Group has discovered an abnormal photophysical phenomenon, in which molecular aggregation plays a constructive rather than destructive role in the light emission process.
Because the light emission was induced by aggregate formation, we coined such phenomenon as "aggregation-induced emission"
(AIE).
Since our first paper published in 2001, many research groups around the world have engaged in AIE research.
The numbers of publications and citations increase exponentially every year, being 1,200 and 58,000,
respectively in 2017.
6/F, Department of Chemistry, CYT Building, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.