Conformation-dependent room-temperature phosphorescence in purely organic systems

Purely organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials are a new kind of triplet emitters characterized by long emission lifetimes and high exciton utilization, offering great potential in a wide range of applications. To achieve efficient RTP emission, a deep understanding of the structure–property relationship is urgently needed. To date, most of the studies have focused on the effect of single molecular structures and molecular packing on RTP properties, while the molecular conformation, although very important, is often ignored. In this review, we highlight the significant influence of molecular conformation on RTP effects, including the conformation-dependent RTP phenomenon, the precise control of molecular conformation through rational molecular design and the dynamic regulation of molecular conformation with external stimulus.