Controlled self-assembly of organic nanowires and platelets using dipolar and hydrogen-bonding interactions.
Synergistic dipole-dipole and hydrogen-bonding interactions are used to assemble nanostructured materials. Precipitation of a hydrogen-bonding donor-acceptor molecule 8-[[p-[bis(ethyl)amino]phenyl]azo]-isobutylflavin (ABFL) yields nanowires approximately 50-150 nm in diameter and lengths of several millimeters. Precipitation of the non-hydrogen-bonding analog, methylated ABFL (MABFL), generates micrometer-sized hexagonal platelets that are 5-10 microm in length, 1-5 microm in width, and 0.1-0.5 microm thick. The structural similarity of the two molecules allows intermediate morphologies to be formed via co-precipitation. Doping experiments demonstrate efficient control over nanowire length and diameter due to the disruption of the hydrogen bonding within the nanowires.
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Brian J
BJ
Jordan
Yuval
Y
Ofir
Debabrata
D
Patra
Stuart T
ST
Caldwell
Andrew
A
Kennedy
Steven
S
Joubanian
Gouher
G
Rabani
Graeme
G
Cooke
Vincent M
VM
Rotello
D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties