Visualizing and monitoring interface structures and dynamics by luminogens with aggregation-induced emission

Interfaces exist in almost all objects and processes. Investigation on the interface not only is fundamentally important but also has great application prospects. Traditionally, the interface structure is studied by electron microscopy, which cannot reflect its real structure considering the pretreated process before measurement. Monitoring the interface evolution process by these regular methods is time-consuming and unfeasible in many cases. In this perspective article, we discuss how to realize the visualizing and monitoring interface structures and dynamics by aggregation-induced emission technique, which is applicable to almost all kinds of interfaces, including gas-solid, liquid-solid, solid-solid, gas-liquid-solid, and liquid-liquid-solid. Meanwhile, it is anticipated that the circularly polarized luminescence property in prochiral aggregation-induced emission luminogens can make a great difference in this area.