Through a collaboration work between our lab and Prof. Fujigaya’s group at Kyushu University, we have demonstrated that the photoluminescence properties of tetracene (Tc) can be tuned by controlling its aggregation state within a one-dimensional nanospace. Specifically, by encapsulating Tc molecules inside boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), we achieved modulation of emission characteristics based on aggregation-state control. This work has been published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

In this study, we controlled the amount of Tc molecules encapsulated in BNNTs by varying the sublimation conditions, which in turn altered the resulting aggregation states. As a consequence, the Tc@BNNT system enabled switching between aggregation-induced fluorescence and excimer emission, thereby realizing emission-mode switching within a single material platform.

From our lab, Mr.Ehara(D3) and Associate Prof. Miyata played a central role by conducting time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. By elucidating the excited-state dynamics of Tc aggregates and determining the timescale of excimer formation, our measurements provided key insights that significantly contributed to this study.