Recent advances in 3D-printable aggregation-induced emission materials

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials exhibit remarkable emission properties in the aggregated or solid states, offering numerous advantages such as high quantum yield, excellent photostability, and low background signals. These characteristics have led to their widespread application in optoelectronic devices, bio-detection markers, chemical sensing, and stimuli-responsive applications among others. In contrast to traditional manufacturing processes, 3D printing (3DP) enables rapid prototyping and large-scale customization with excellent flexibility in manufacturing techniques and material selection. The combination of AIE materials with 3DP can provide new strategies for fabricating materials and devices with complex structures. Therefore, 3DP is an ideal choice for processing AIE organic luminescent materials. However, 3DP of AIE materials is still in the early stages of development and is facing many challenges including limited printable AIE materials, poor printing functionalities and limited application range. This review aims to summarize the significant achievements in the field of 3DP of AIE materials. Firstly, different types of AIE materials for 3DP are studied, and the factors that affect the printing effect and the luminescence mechanism are discussed. Then, the latest advancements made in various application domains using 3D printed AIE materials are summarized. Finally, the existing challenges of this emerging field are discussed while the future prospects are prospected.