Photoactuators and photoluminescent dyes utilize light to perform mechanical motion and undergo spontaneous radiation emission, respectively. Combining these two functionalities in a single molecule would benefit the construction of advanced molecular machines. Due to the possible detrimental interaction between the two light-dependent functional parts, the design of hybrid systems featuring both functions in parallel remains highly challenging. Here, we develop a light-driven rotary molecular motor with an efficient photoluminescent dye chemically attached to the motor, not compromising its motor function. This molecular system shows efficient rotary motion and bright photoluminescence, and these functions can be addressed by a proper choice of excitation wavelengths and solvents. The moderate interaction between the two parts generates synergistic effects, which are beneficial for lower-energy excitation and chirality transfer from the motor to the photoluminescent dye. Our results provide prospects towards photoactive multifunctional systems capable of carrying out molecular rotary motion and tracking its location in a complex environment.

光致动器和光致发光染料分别利用光进行机械运动和进行自发辐射发射。将这两种功能结合在一个分子中将有利于构建先进的分子机器。由于两个依赖于光的功能部分之间可能存在有害的相互作用，因此同时具有这两种功能的混合系统的设计仍然极具挑战性。在这里，我们开发了一种光驱动的旋转分子马达，其高效的光致发光染料以化学方式附着在马达上，而不影响其马达功能。该分子系统显示出有效的旋转运动和明亮的光致发光，这些功能可以通过适当的激发波长和溶剂来解决。两部分之间适度的相互作用产生协同效应，有利于低能量激发和手性从马达到光致发光染料的转移。我们的研究结果为能够在复杂环境中进行分子旋转运动并跟踪其位置的光敏多功能系统提供了前景。