Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence: Roles of Localized Electronic Structures Caused by π Degeneracy Due to Highly Symmetric Heavy Atom‐Free Conjugated Molecular Crystals Leading to Efficient Persistent Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence (Adv. Sci. 14/2019)

Persistent room-temperature phosphorescence realizes high-contrast and high-resolution imaging independent of autofluorescence using small-scale and cost-effective photodetectors. In article number 1900410, Shuzo Hirata investigates a key mechanism leading to persistent emission from highly symmetric heavy-atom-free conjugated molecular crystals. Charge transfer characteristics caused by π-degeneracy due to highly symmetric conjugated structure contributes to the appearance of persistent room-temperature phosphorescence from the crystals.