Ultra-Narrowband Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Multiple 1,4-Azaborine-Embedded Helical Nanographenes

Abstract

In this manuscript we present a strategy to achieve ultranarrowband circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) from multiple 1,4-azaborine-embedded helical nanographenes. The impact of number and position of boron and nitrogen atoms in the rigid core of the molecule on optical properties─including absorption and emission maxima, photoluminescence quantum yield, Stokes shift, excited singlet–triplet energy gap and full width at half-maximum (fwhm) for CPL and fluorescence─was investigated. The molecules reported here exhibits ultranarrowband fluorescence (fwhm 16–17.5 nm in toluene) and CPL (fwhm 18–19 nm in toluene). To the best of our knowledge, this is among the narrowest CPL for any organic molecule reported to date. Quantum chemical calculations, including computed CPL spectra involving vibronic contributions, provide valuable insights for future molecular design aimed at achieving narrowband CPL.