Advances in circularly polarized luminescent materials based on axially chiral compounds

Circularly polarized (CP) light, as a special form of polarized light, demonstrates potential application prospects in future displays and optoelectronic technologies. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) from chiral chromophores is an ideal method to directly generate CP light, but how to design efficient emitters is always a perplexing problem. Among various chiral materials, CPL materials with axial chirality can provide us with clear structural parameters and information to further explore the structure-activity relationship. Herein, we systematically summarize the development status of axially chiral compounds with CPL properties from two aspects of photoluminescence and electroluminescence, covering metal complexes, polymers, supramolecular assemblies, simple organic molecules, and liquid crystals systems. In addition, we initially explore the relationship between CPL performance and axially chiral configuration, and the current challenges and opportunities in this vibrant field are also discussed.