p-Carboxyl-N-salicylideneanilines: Simple but efficient chromophores for one-dimensional microrods with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics

► p-carboxyl-N-salicylideneaniline (pCSA) with AIEE properties were simply prepared. ► Green, yellow and orange AIEE colors could be tuned by substituents on salicylaldimine moiety. ► 1D microrods of pCSA could be facilely recrystallized from organic solvent and utilized as potential optical waveguides.