Light has illuminated the world and promoted the development of society, especially since Thomas Edison invented incandescent lightbulbs in 1879. Natural sunlight contains different wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum and finally shows white color. It affects the metabolism of humans and controls the circadian rhythm of organisms.1 To mimic natural sunlight, steps on the exploration of white-light luminescent materials have never stopped. They have exhibited a wide range of lighting applications in illumination, industry automotive, information communication, and luminescent dyes. Compared with traditional incandescent lightbulbs and inefficient mercury-discharge-based fluorescent lamps, solid-state sources such as LEDs exhibit advantages such as high efficacy, small size, color stability, controllability, and variability, thus attracting increasing attention from scientists and industries.2^–4 Being different from traditional light sources with monochromatic light, white-light emitters should produce polychromatic lights simultaneously, which usually requires them to have di-, tri-, or tetrachromatic sources.2^,3^,5 For example, white-light LEDs with high brightness and durability could be realized by synergistically combining traditional LED with three primary colors (e.g., blue InGaN LED, green InGaN LED, and red GaAlAs LED).6 Other strategies based on ultraviolet/blue LED plus phosphors have been successfully utilized.7^–9 The past several decades have witnessed a prosperous era in the generation and commercialization of white-light emitters based on inorganic semiconductor p-n junction diodes and phosphors.

It is acknowledged that some organometallic aggregates are also good candidates for luminescence and realizing white-light emission with high efficiency.10^,11 However, compared with inorganic and organometallic materials with rare-earth elements, pure organic compounds show better processability, flexibility, structural diversity, environmental friendliness, etc., which endows them with promising applications in advanced smart devices.12 However, many organic luminophores suffer the severe aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, which strongly impedes their practical applications in the aggregate and solid states.13^,14 Meanwhile, most of them are monochromatic, so it is difficult to realize white-light emission from single-component organic emitters, which require intricate multilayered device fabrications. The above hindrances block the generation and utilization of white light from organic luminescent materials for decades. In 2001, Tang et al. coined the photophysical concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) which brought a new perspective for molecular behavior in the aggregate state.15 AIE refers to the photophysical phenomenon that some certain molecules are nonemissive in the isolated solution state but would show strong photoluminescence (PL) in the aggregate or solid state.16^–18 In the past two decades, AIE has motivated much research on aggregate science from fundamental mechanisms to advanced applications and promoted the diagram shift from molecular science to aggregate science.19^–25 The emergences and changes originating from aggregation are beyond enhanced PL intensity. Some new phenomena that do not exist in the single molecule emerge in the aggregate state, such as room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), clusteroluminescence, and mechanoluminescence.16^,26 From this consideration, organic aggregates showing the AIE effect are also promising to provide a new insight on pursuing white-light emission in terms of strategies and applications.27^–29 Some luminogens with the AIE effect (AIEgens) with flexible structures can emit polychromatic colors simultaneously in the aggregate state, achieving the requirements for white light. In addition, the solid-state form and high efficiency of AIEgens are beneficial to practical applications.30^–33 However, only a few compounds were reported as organic white-light emitters, and few general methods or strategies are constructed as the guidance for achieving solid-state white light.34 Hence, it requires in-depth understanding of the principles and mechanisms behind photophysical behaviors of organic aggregates to generate white-light emission.

In this review, from the mechanistic perspective, we focus on the fundamental strategies to achieve efficient white-light emission from pure organic aggregates, which are summarized from single-component and multicomponent systems, respectively (Fig. 1). Single-component strategies include dual fluorescence from two singlet states, fluorescence and phosphorescence, dual phosphorescence with anti-Kasha’s behavior, and clusteroluminescence. Subsequently, doping, supramolecular assembly, and cocrystallization are introduced as strategies for multicomponent systems. Finally, some emerging applications of organic emitters with white-light emission are highlighted. It is expected that this review will draw a comprehensive picture for white-light emitters of organic aggregates.

Mixing two or three compounds with primary colors together is a simple method to construct multicolor emission with the merits of high-quality white light, high efficiency, and mature fabrication techniques. However, its performance is like a double-edged sword that brings the problems of phase separation, high casting cost, and unstable emission color. In contrast, single-molecule systems with polychromic emission are ideal candidates to achieve white-light emission. Several single-molecule white-light emitters have been reported in solution conditions.35^–37 With the help of the AIE effect, it is possible for organic luminogens to exhibit efficient white-light emission in the aggregate or solid state with high color quality, stability, and controllability. In this section, various reported design principles and mechanisms to achieve white-light emission from single-component organic aggregates will be discussed.

When one molecule is excited to the higher excited state, it will quickly relax to the lowest excited state through internal conversion (IC) and then return to the ground state through competitively radiative and nonradiative decay channels, which is illustrated by Kasha’s rule.38 For this reason, most molecules only have one fluorescent emissive state and show monochromic emission. However, the structural features of some molecules enable two or more emissive states to be presented and balanced at the same time, which realize polychromic emission from two or more fluorescent states following Kasha’s rule. According to the region of electron distribution before and after excitation, the common origins of fluorescence are usually divided into locally excited (LE) and charge transfer (CT) states. The former refers to the same electron distribution after excitation, while the latter indicates an obvious region change of electron distribution. Here, three common cases, namely, LE and CT, dual LE, and dual CT fluorescence for white-light emission are introduced (Fig. 2). It should be noticed that dual fluorescence can also be generated from some special molecules with excited-state intramolecular proton transfer,42^–44 structural isomerization,45 and excimers,46 which have been summarized by some reviews.34^,47

When two chromophores that do not show obvious electron-donating or electron-withdrawing features are connected, they may emit two independent lights from their corresponding LE states after photoexcitation. For example, a typical saddle-shaped compound, N,N-disubstituted-dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazines (DPAC), and a typical AIEgen triphenylethylene (TPE) were utilized to construct the compound DPAC-Tri(o1,2) [Fig. 2(a)].39 The moiety of DPAC was flexible so that it displayed planarized conformation in the ground state and became bent in the excited state, which was insusceptible to the surrounding environment. However, the other part of the TPE exhibited dynamic intramolecular rotation in the isolated state and restricted intramolecular rotation in the aggregate state. Therefore, in a low-viscosity solution, organ-red emission from the DPAC part was observed while another blue light from the TPE was quenched. In contrast, bright white light was achieved from dual LE emission in the high-viscosity solution or solid state, which contained both orange-red and blue colors from two separated fluorogens, respectively. Furthermore, polytetrahydrofuran (polyTHF) was utilized as a “solvent” to powerfully restrict intramolecular motion. Hence, the blue emission with a wavelength of 435 nm was strongly enhanced when the state of the polyTHF changed from liquid to solid. A solid model with two letters of “CC” was made accordingly with a cold-white color and an International Commission on Illumination (CIE) coordinate of (0.28, 0.25) [Fig. 2(a)].

If there is an equilibrium between parent LE and CT states, dual fluorescence can also be achieved. Hence, it requires a moderate strength between a donor–acceptor (D-A) pair to balance the strength of LE and CT and further realize white light.48^–50 The first example of such a dual-emission emitter was originally reported in a donor–acceptor compound named 4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzonitrile in 1959.51 Tu et al. reported a single-component white-light emitter o-CP where the phenanthrene acted as the donor and the carborane group played as the acceptor [Fig. 2(b)].40 Due to the weak electron-withdrawing ability of the carborane unit, one blue emission from the LE state located at phenanthrene and the other yellow emission with the CT feature were achieved simultaneously in the crystalline phase. In addition, with the help of multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds (Cage-H⋅⋅⋅π ), intramolecular motions and nonradiative decay of o-CP were suppressed in the solid state, resulting in high-purity white light with an absolute quantum yield of 46% and a CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.36). A white-light emitting device was also fabricated with a brightness as high as 1.4×104cdm−2 under a low operating voltage of 4.0 V.

Further increasing the strength of the electron-donating and electron-withdrawing abilities between a D-A pair, the emission from the CT state becomes dominant without any LE feature.52^,53 Specifically, polychromic emission from CT states may be observed if two or more different D-A pairs are presented. Chi et al. reported an asymmetrical compound CPzPO based on diphenylsulfone, diphenylketone, and diphenylphosphine oxide, which showed a donor–acceptor–acceptor conformation [Fig. 2(c)].41 It showed only one blue emission (∼460nm) in a dilute solution, which was generated from the intramolecular CT between phenothiazine and ketone moieties. However, apart from the blue emission, its crystal displayed another low-energy emission band at 568 nm. Through single-crystal analysis, excitation spectrum measurement, and blending and grinding experiments, the long-wavelength band was assigned to the intermolecular CT from phenothiazine moiety to ketone moiety with the assistance of intermolecular hydrogen bonds (-CH⋅⋅⋅O = 2.627 Å). As a result, CPzPO emitted pure white color with a CIE coordinate of (0.31, 0.32) assisted by synergistic intramolecular and intermolecular CT states.

Traditionally, phosphorescence of pure organic molecules has been disregarded since it is too weak to be observed at room temperature and triplet excitons are easily quenched. According to the Jablonski diagram, to achieve RTP with high efficiency, efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) from singlet to triplet states, suppressed nonradiative decay or quenching processes of the triplet states, and fast phosphorescent decay from triplet to ground states are prerequisites.54 With the development of aggregate science, research on RTP from organic aggregates rapidly developed with various systems, strategies, and multiple functionalities.55^–58

Accompanying fluorescence from the singlet state, the emission from the triplet state as phosphorescence provides another focus on white light from single-component organic aggregates. The key to this strategy is to directly manipulate the strength of ISC and further adjust the equilibrium between singlet and triplet excitons after photoexcitation.59^,60 Heavy atoms are usually used to enhance the weak ISC ability of organic molecules to promote triplet excitons.61^,62 For instance, TPO-Br was successfully synthesized that showed blue fluorescence and strong yellow RTP in the solid state (Fig. 3).63 The pure TPO-Br film prepared by spin-coating exhibited high-quality white light with a CIE coordinate of (0.32, 0.33) [Fig. 3(b)], which was very close to the pure white color of (0.33, 0.33) defined by CIE in 1931.64 Single-crystal structure analysis suggests that, apart from twisted phenyl rings around the oxazole core, two Br anions closely located on both sides of the positively charged oxazoliums with distances of 3.494 and 3.601 Å, respectively [Fig. 3(c)]. This conformation and anion–π+ interactions blocked the strong intermolecular interactions and promoted efficient emission in the aggregate state. The small energy difference between S1 and T3/T4 states (0.18 eV) and large spin-orbit coupling assisted by the external heavy-atom effect of Br anions ensured the strong ISC for RTP [Fig. 3(d)]. As a result, the balance between fluorescence and phosphorescence produced the dual emission and final white-light emission.

The strength of ISC and equilibrium between the singlet and triplet states are also indirectly controlled by other methods, such as oxidation degree of thianthrene,65 intermolecular hydrogen bonding,66 halogen bonding,67^,68 one-dimensional π−π stacking,69^,70 and oxygen/nitrogen heteroatom with (n,π*) transition.71^,72 These examples provide prosperous methods to modulate excited-state features and harvest efficient white-light emission from pure organic aggregates.

A rare but interesting phenomenon is that molecules can emit light from a higher excited state (e.g., Sn and Tn, n≥2), which violates Kasha’s rule, and was originally discovered in azulene in 1955.73 In general, after being excited to the higher excited state, excitons quickly relax to the lowest excited state (S1 or T1) through IC.74^,75 Hence, it is scarce to obtain emissions from higher excited states. There are a few studies that reported and strictly verified this unusual anti-Kasha’s emission from multiple excited singlet states.76^,77

As a special case to traditional molecules with one emission peak of RTP, pure phosphorescence with anti-Kasha’s behavior provides more complicated photophysical processes and mechanistic value.78 Dual emission of phosphorescence also indicates the possibility to obtain white-light emission from single-component systems. In principle, there are two ways to achieve such anti-Kasha’s phosphorescence. (1) Large energy difference between the higher excited state and T1 so the higher triplet state does not involve the T1, which suppresses the rate of IC. (2) The higher triplet state and T1 are vibronically mixed or thermally equilibrated with energy proximity or small energy difference, and the radiative rate from the higher triplet state is much faster than that from T1.79^,80 As a result, dual phosphorescence can be achieved from two triplet states. With the help of the carbonyl group and heavy halogen atom to greatly strengthen ISC, Tang et al. studied a pure organic compound, ClBDBT, as the first example of white-light emitter showing pure phosphorescence with anti-Kasha’s behavior.81 As shown in Fig. 4(a), the powder of ClBDBT showed white and yellow colors with and without UV illumination, respectively. The PL spectra indicated two emission peaks located at 467 and 551 nm with a white-light CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.35) [Figs. 4(b) and 4(c)]. To verify the origin of the dual emission, variable-temperature lifetime was investigated. The blue and yellow emission showed lifetimes of 0.41 and 123.4 ms at room temperature (300 K), respectively, and their lifetime increased with the decreased temperature from 300 to 50 K [Figs. 4(d) and 4(e)]. These results support their nature of phosphorescence. The calculated energy gap between T2 and T1 was 0.27 eV, indicating the nature of thermally mixed two states. The higher-energy T2 showed an (n,π*) transition character, while the lower-energy T1 was dominant with a (π,π*) transition character. The transition oscillator strength (f) of T2 (1.08×10−6) is much larger than that of T1 (0.37×10−6), leading to an experimental short lifetime of T2 and long lifetime of T1 [Fig. 4(f)]. As a result, two radiative decay channels generated the white-color emission through balancing two emissions of phosphorescence with anti-Kasha’s behavior.

Being different from traditional emissive compounds based on through-bond conjugation (e.g., double bonds, triple bonds, and aromatic rings), many nonconjugated or poorly conjugated molecules, such as polystyrene and maleimide, also emit visible light in the aggregate state although they are nonemissive in the solution.82^–84 This unconventional photophysical process is termed as clusterization-triggered emission (CTE) and the corresponding emission is known as clusteroluminescence.85^,86 Previous studies suggested that strong intermolecular and intramolecular interactions play vital roles in clusteroluminescence. Electronic delocalization and coupling between electron-rich groups (e.g., carbonyl, hydroxyl, and sulfhydryl groups) can generate new emissive species and stabilize excitons to produce such clusteroluminescence.58^,87 These new species usually produce emission with a longer wavelength than the intrinsic short-wavelength emission of the electron-rich groups from through-bond conjugation.

With the idea of clusteroluminescence, it is possible to produce multicolor emission from such nonconjugated compounds based on their different through-space interaction (TSI) properties in the clustered state, which could eventually achieve white-light emission.88^–91 Zhang et al. synthesized a linear siloxane-based poly(hydroxyurethane) (PHU) that contained carbonyl, hydroxyl groups, and ether bonds [Fig. 5(a)].92 The twisted and entangled chains in the aggregate state allowed these electron-rich groups to approach each other and formed electronic delocalization through multiple hydrogen bonds and (n,π*) transition. Therefore, PHU film fabricated by rotary coating showed excitation-dependent and strong visible-range emission with 52% of blue-to-red color within the whole spectra, suggesting the high conversion efficiency from UV light to white-light emission [Fig. 5(b)]. As discussed above, this visible-range emission originated from TSI of delocalized electrons, which was assisted by multiple intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. As expected, the counterpart of PHU without side hydroxyl groups was nonemissive, suggesting the importance of such electron-rich groups to clusteroluminescence. Fortunately, a white-light emitter with a CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.38) was achieved when the PHU was coated on a 365-nm UV lamp. Its emission spectrum covered the whole visible range with two peaks at 476 and 550 nm, which was attributed to the CTE from PHU clusters with different TSI [Figs. 5(c) and 5(d)]. It is noteworthy that this white-light emitter was comparable with a commercial white LED in terms of its correlated color temperature of 5681 K, high luminance of 8222cdm−2, and color rendering index of 83.

Compared with single-component strategy, multicomponent strategy provides a facile way to achieve white-light emission based on luminescent materials with different colors.93^,94 However, traditional multicomponent strategy is to mix fluorogens with several emissive colors (e.g., blue + green + red or green + yellow) together, especially for inorganic emitters. Besides, some systems based on organometallic emitters and an energy transfer process between two emitters were successfully achieved for white-light emission.95^,96 Hence, this method faces a severe challenge of phase separation, which makes them with a short lifetime, unstable color, and unexpected practical problems. Compared to inorganic and metal materials, pure organic molecules usually show better compatibility. Therefore, several methods such as trace doping, host-guest-based complexation, and cocrystallization can generate a homogeneous phase in the solid or aggregate state, which overcomes the difficulties that multicomponent strategies faced. In this section, we will draw a mechanistic picture of those multicomponent strategies with typical examples.

For organic AIEgens, it is possible to achieve full-color luminescence in the solid state by blending emitters with different colors. Moreover, flexible and similar conformation can increase the compatibility of the mixture. Zhu et al. synthesized three perchalcogenated arenes that contained O (Arene-O), S (Arene-S), and Se (Arene-Se) atoms and displayed blue, green, and red colors, respectively [Figs. 6(a)–6(d)].97 The luminescence from Arene-S and Arene-Se was phosphorescence due to the heavy-atom effect, while that from Arene-O was assigned to fluorescence. The three luminescent primaries were utilized to construct a white-light emitter with a CIE coordinate of (0.27, 0.34) by incorporating them together with the molar ratio of 300:1:3 (Arene-O:Arene-S:Arene-Se) [Fig. 6(e)]. The powder X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the fabricated white emitter was crystalline, also indicating their good compatibility.

Apart from the above method of simply mixing multicolor materials to achieve full-color luminescence, incorporating multicolor fluorogens on a nonemissive matrix through chemical bonding provides another chance for white-light emitting materials. For instance, Tang et al. successfully fabricated white light-emitting silk through bioconjugation in 2021.98 Three typical AIEgens (namely, TPE-pyo, MTPEP-pyo, and MTPABP-pyo) with three primary RGB colors were fixed in natural silks by chemical bonds formed between activated alkynes of AIEgens and amine groups of silks [Fig. 6(f)]. Each AIEgen emitted its intrinsic color in the fabricated silk and finally made up white-color emission with a CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.36) [Fig. 6(g)]. Compared with traditional fluorescent dyes physically absorbed by the matrix, this doping method provides higher color retention and stability in the basic environment through chemical bonding, suggesting its potential advantages in silk fabrics and other applications utilized in harsh environments.

The doping strategy of two or more components also suggests a new insight on creating new photophysical behaviors that cannot be produced by themselves, which is different from utilizing their intrinsic luminescence as discussed above.58 With the development of RTP from single-component organic molecules, trace dopant (even at part-per-billion level) in the non-RTP matrix plays a special role in producing new emissive species of RTP, resulting in dual emission of fluorescence and phosphorescence in such multicomponent systems.99^,100 It also creates a chance to realize white-light emission similar to the single-component system with features of fluorescence and phosphorescence. Based on this consideration, Lei et al. realized a white-light emitting material by doping IQL-nCz (as the dopant) into benzophenone (BPO, as the matrix) with a molar ratio of 1:1000 [Fig. 7(a)].101 In this system, the intrinsic fluorescence from the dopant located at 460 nm and a newly emerged phosphorescent peak located at 570 nm were observed, and the intensity ratio between two peaks was excitation-wavelength dependent [Fig. 7(b)]. Under excitation of a 370-nm UV lamp, a nearly pure white-light emission was noticed with a CIE coordinate of (0.32, 0.32) [Fig. 7(c)]. A general working scheme for this process is drawn in Fig 7(d). Due to multiple intermolecular interactions between the dopant and matrix, it was believed that an IQL-nCz molecule was surrounded by several BPO molecules and generated clusters. Upon excitation, these clusters are excited and form transient cluster excitons, as evidenced by the different excitation spectra of the doped material compared with that of dopant and matrix. Some excitons radiatively relax to the ground state from the central dopant in the form of fluorescence. In addition, through the ISC process and energy transfer from cluster to the dopant, other excitons rapidly decay to the more stable triplet state and the excited-state energy is finally “trapped” by the dopant, resulting in long-lifetime phosphorescent emission.58^,102 This doping method is now attracting more attention to extend the scope of RTP materials with functionality.103^,104

Inspired by nature, supramolecular assemblies have been rapidly developed as a great platform for advanced materials due to the well-defined conformation and fascinating topological structures, which are constructed by noncovalent intermolecular interactions. After adding functional units into the cavities of building blocks or utilizing building blocks with unique features, multifunctional host–guest systems can be constructed.105^–107 Therefore, the introduction of luminescent materials to the building blocks endows an opportunity to achieve white-light emission, where the problem of phase separation of multicomponent materials is also resolved by the regular-shaped packing in the solid state.108^–110 For example, a twisted and AIE-active tetraphenylpyrazine (TPP) structure was immobilized to construct the building blocks (TPP-Cage) that showed obvious chirality and blue emission in the solution state (Fig. 8).111 Due to its large cavity, an ACQ-active diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as the guest was encapsulated to form DPP@TPP-Cage complex. Since the π−π stacking was blocked by the TPP-Cage, DPP emitted yellow light in the cavity of such complexes. As a result, companying with the complementary blue color from the host of TPP-Cage, white-light emission was achieved in the aggregate and poly(ethylene glycol) film with a CIE coordinate of (0.36, 0.33). In addition, this fabricated white-light-emitting film exhibited good stability with its emission color hardly changing after placing at atmospheric conditions for 30 days. Similarly, Ni et al. reported a study on utilizing nonemissive cucurbituril[7] (Q[7]) and cucurbituril[8] (Q[8]) with different cavity sizes to anchor oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)-based cationic dye (G1). Q[7] was able to accommodate one G1 molecule and emitted blue color, while the cavity of Q[8] accommodated two molecules of the dye and produced yellow emission, respectively. Therefore, combining the above two complexes, white light-emitting with a CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.36) was realized in this macrocycle-assisted supramolecular system.112

Since the structural diversity of guest and host molecules, supramolecular assembly becomes a platform for solid-state white-light emitters (crystal, powder, film, hydrogel, etc.).106^,113 In addition, the white light of these host–guest systems originates not only from dual fluorescence but also from fluorescence and phosphorescence.114

Organic cocrystals, which are formed by two or more organic molecules with defined packing arrangements in the crystalline state, are gaining increased attention for crystal engineering and applications.115^–118 Apart from the sum of molecular properties, it is possible to create new chemical and physical behaviors through noncovalent intermolecular interactions (hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, π−π interaction, etc.) within cocrystals. For example, researchers successfully utilized the strategy of cocrystals for transforming ACQ-active molecules to AIE active119^–121 and endowing cocrystals with self-healing and thermomechanical responses.122 RTP is also realized within cocrystals through regulating excited states and the ISC process, which may give another way to realize white-light emission.123

With the consideration that halogen bonding can enhance the spin-orbital crossing (SOC), 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (DITFB) and 1,7-phenanthroline (PR) were used to build cocrystals with intermolecular halogen bonds.124 Three crystals, namely P1D0, P2D1, and P1D1, contained an adjustable stoichiometric ratio between PR and DITFB of 1:0, 2:1, and 1:1, respectively, which displayed different emission properties under UV illumination. Especially, P2D1 produced white-light emission in the crystalline state [Figs. 9(a) and 9(b)]. The PL spectra of P2D1 showed one fluorescent peak at 470 nm and another phosphorescent emission around 550 to 650 nm, which formed white light with a CIE coordinate of (0.31, 0.31). From crystal analysis of P2D1, it was obvious that each PR molecule connected with one DITFB through a strong N⋅⋅⋅I halogen bond and communicated with another DITFB through a comparatively weak H⋅⋅⋅F interaction, which finally helped to increase the strength of the SOC [Fig. 9(c)]. Those multiple intermolecular interactions also stabilized the excited state and promoted the small energy differences between the lowest singlet state (S1) and multitriplet states (Tn). As a result, the rate of ISC (KISC) of 1.60×109s−1 was nearly 16 times larger than the rate of fluorescence (KFI) of 9.49×107s−1. Cocrystal P2D1 finally displayed white-light emission with balanced fluorescence and phosphorescence [Fig. 9(d)]. On the contrary, P1D0 without intermolecular halogen bonds only showed fluorescence, while P1D1 with much stronger halogen-bonding interactions and an SOC ability exhibited pure phosphorescent emission. By precisely modulating intermolecular interactions and excited states, cocrystallization is verified as a potential platform to generate homogeneous phases for white-light emission and optical applications.

Along with the advances in design strategy and mechanistic elucidation of white-light emission from organic aggregates, much attention has been paid to the development of applications. Apart from white-light emission with adjustable color rendering index and color temperature, organic materials with luminescent properties in the aggregates also exhibited the advantages of low cost, excellent flexibility, compatibility, and environmental friendliness for practical applications. Here, some organic white-light emitters are highlighted for their potential values.

In this review, from the perspectives of single-component and multicomponent systems, we have discussed the recent progress of the development of white-light emission using organic molecules in the aggregate state. The key point is to produce polychromic emissions simultaneously and balance the ratio between them to achieve white-light emission. From the viewpoint of a single-component strategy, organic aggregates with properties of dual fluorescence from two singlet states, balanced fluorescence and phosphorescence, dual phosphorescence with anti-Kasha’s behavior, and clusteroluminescence were successfully utilized to achieve white-light emission. On the other hand, a multicomponent strategy, including doping, supramolecular assembly, and cocrystallization, synergistically combines several compounds for producing white light. Among all strategies, aggregate behavior plays a vital role: a rigid environment realized through intermolecular interactions in the aggregate state greatly blocks nonradiative decay and promotes radiative emission. Also, aggregate provides a platform for polychromic luminescence and balanced emissions with different wavelengths to achieve white-light emission. Some unique photophysical behaviors, such as RTP, clusteroluminescence, and CPL, emerge in aggregates and provide more interesting phenomena and mechanistic insights. Therefore, apart from precise molecular design and synthesis, the behavior of organic molecules in the aggregate state should be carefully considered in future work, including structure–property relationship at the aggregate level, characterization, and control of aggregate morphology.

We also highlighted some advanced applications of white-light emission from organic aggregates, showing potentials for next-generation luminescent materials. Single-component strategy and good compatibility of multicomponent strategy resolve the challenge of phase separation of traditional inorganic materials. In addition, the flexibility of organic materials indicates their potential applications on flexible devices, which may further endow them with applications for display and illumination.136^,137 Although many successes of pure organic white-light emitters have been achieved, their performance is still far behind those inorganic and organometallic emitters in terms of brightness, efficiency, quality of color, device fabrication, etc. In addition, due to their morphology-dependent properties, the control and optimization of morphology during device fabrication and application is another consideration. Therefore, they are far from being widely utilized in our daily life, and many existing issues need to be further addressed.

Last, but not least, the development of modern computational methodologies makes it possible to illustrate photophysical processes of single molecules and aggregates, providing mechanistic understandings and rational design of white-light emitters. However, as the diagram shifts from molecular science to aggregate science, present computational methods are unable to accurately describe inherent luminescent mechanisms at the level of aggregate, especially for intermolecular interactions and electron delocalization. From this perspective, multiscale computational approaches and even artificial intelligence technology are needed to dig the nature of aggregates and extend the scope of organic white-light emitters. As a branch of aggregate science, organic aggregates with white-light emission show their values for advanced materials and underlying mechanisms of photophysics. We believe that the future road for practical applications is challenging and rewarding.

Jianyu Zhang received his bachelor’s degree in science from Sun Yat-sen University in 2019. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) under the supervision of Professor Ben Zhong Tang. His research interests focus on the photophysical mechanism, computational chemistry, aggregation-induced emission, and clusteroluminescence.

Xueqian Zhao received his PhD from HKUST in 2021 under the supervision of Professor Ben Zhong Tang. He is now conducting his postdoctoral work on the development of functional luminescent materials with AIE characteristics and exploration of their biological applications in Professor Sijie Chen’s laboratory at Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.

Hanchen Shen received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Fudan University in 2020. He is currently a PhD student under the supervision of Professor Ben Zhong Tang in the Department of Chemistry, HKUST. His research mainly focuses on the biomedical applications of multifunction fluorescent materials.

Jacky W. Y. Lam received his PhD from HKUST in 2003 under the supervision of Professor Ben Zhong Tang. He is currently a research associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at HKUST. His research interests include macromolecular chemistry and materials science.

Haoke Zhang is an assistant professor at Zhejiang University. He received his PhD from HKUST in 2018 under the supervision of Professor Ben Zhong Tang. His research interests focus on photophysical chemistry, chiral chemistry, and computational chemistry.

Ben Zhong Tang works as a distinguished presidential chair professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-SZ), dean of the School of Science and Engineering at CUHK-SZ, director of AIE Institute. He received his BS and PhD degrees from South China University of Technology and Kyoto University, respectively. He conducted postdoctoral study at the University of Toronto. His research interests include materials science, macromolecular chemistry, and biomedical theranostics. His lab is spearheading research on aggregation-induced emission.