The self-assembly of a terpyridine-based ligand in a DMSO/water solvent mixture (1 : 99 v/v) with a high content of water formed a nanofibrillar structure and showed a non-emissive process. On the other hand, the self-assembly of the terpyridine-based ligand exhibited strong emission in the presence of Zn²⁺ due to the formation of coordination bonds between the terpyridine moieties and the Zn²⁺ by the aggregation-induced emission effect. The morphology of this aggregate represented a spherical structure.