Solvent effect on the self-assembled structure of an amphiphilic perylene diimide derivative.
An amphiphilic electron-deficient (n-type) perylene diimide has been synthesized and characterized. The diimide contains a hydrophobic long chain on one end and a hydrophilic ethoxy chain on the other. The self-assembly of this molecule in polar and nonpolar solvents has been demonstrated by concentration- and temperature-dependent absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. Analysis of the spectral change for the aggregates shows typical J-aggregates for structures precipitated from polar solvents and H-aggregates for structures precipitated from nonpolar solvents. SEM and TEM micrographs and a suggested packing scheme, compatible with the formation of nanostrips in nonpolar solvents and nanofibers in polar solvents, are presented.
Yang
Xin
X
Department of Chemistry, Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana 71272, USA.
Xu
Xiaohe
X
Ji
Hai-Feng
HF