Photoexcitation-controlled self-recoverable molecular aggregation for flicker phosphorescence

Significance We employed photoexcitation as a unique control method to manipulate molecular aggregation and emission to advance luminescent probe techniques. This study harnesses dynamical and rhythmical photoluminescence to strengthen visualization in bioimaging. These advantages are based on the merit of a type of photocontrollable material, which can undergo fast and self-recoverable aggregation-induced phosphorescence while mostly avoiding possible side reactions and fatigue accumulation, compared with traditional bidirectional manipulations.