Photodynamic control of harmful algal blooms by an ultra-efficient and degradable AIEgen-based photosensitizer

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have a severe impact on human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy. There is still lack of effective means to control blooms. Herein, TVP-A, positively charged photosensitizer with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics introduced as super-efficient, cost-effective, eco-friendly agent for governance HABs. TVP-A efficiently harvests white light generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due its positive surface charge, has good water solubility quickly adsorbs onto cells floating water, triggering cell death through oxidative destruction nuclei chloroplasts algae. at low concentrations requires sunlight irradiation periods only few minutes destroy blooms, making it applicable large scale bloom under most weather conditions. Further, non-toxic fish, mice or mammalian cells. The slow self-degradation during photodynamic prevents environmental accumulation secondary pollution ecological systems. therefore serves an excellent candidate green