Achieving Significant Fluorescence Differences in Materials via Spatial Confinement: A Fluorescent Molecular Probe for Accurate Assessment of Polymer Condensed Matter Structures

Accurate analysis of the material’s condensed matter structure and its dynamic evolution is the fundamental for elucidating the mechanisms underlying material failure and scientifically judging the state of the material. However, existing detection technologies make it challenging to achieve rapid, nondestructive, and real-time characterization of the condensed matter structure. This study reports a molecular probe for material condensed matter based on aggregation-induced emission effects. The "double-bridge" fluorescent molecular structure of the probe enables visualization of polymeric condensed matter structure and their dynamic behavior via fluorescence. Specifically, the molecular probe and polymer jointly form the spatial structure of the material, and disruption of the condensed matter structure weakens the fluorescence effect of the molecular probe. Real-time extraction of the fluorescence intensity during this disruption process provides information on the condensed matter structure. Precise quantification of the degree of structural disruption, thereby enabling accurate assessment of the condensed matter structure of polymers based on fluorescence intensity. By integrating machine vision, the condensed matter structure of materials and its evolution process are ultimately visualized as three-dimensional images. This study provides an in situ, nondestructive approach for elucidating the microscopic mechanisms by which the evolution of condensed matter structure underlies material failure.