Strong solid-state luminescence enhancement in supramolecular assemblies of polyoxometalate and "Aggregation-Induced Emission"-active phospholium

Two new supramolecular fluorescent hybrid materials combining for the first time [M6O19]2‐ (M = Mo, W) polyoxometalates (POMs) and the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)‐active 1‐methyl‐1,2,3,4,5‐pentaphenyl‐phospholium (1+) were successfully synthesized. This novel molecular self‐assembling strategy allows designing efficient solid‐state emitters such as (1)2[W6O19] by directing favourably the balance between the AIE and aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effects using both anion‐π+ and H‐bonding interactions in the solid‐state. Combined single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, Raman, UV‐vis and photoluminescence analyses highlighted that the nucleophilic oxygen‐enriched POM surfaces strengthened the rigidity of the phospholium via strong C‐H∙∙∙O contacts, thereby exalting its solid‐state luminescence. Besides, the bulky POM anions prevented π‐π stacking interactions between the luminophores, blocking detrimental self‐quenching effects.