Surface modification of self-assembled one-dimensional organic structures: white-light emission and beyond.
Surface modification is an important method to functionalize micro-/nanostructures, but substrates are mainly confined to robust inorganic compounds. We develop here a facile method to modify the surface of a fragile organic 1D microstructure. The bulk molecules and surface modifier were designed with orthogonal solubility to protect the molecular crystals from destruction under the reaction conditions. As a proof of concept, white-light-emitting 1D microstructures were obtained by grafting red chromophores onto the surface of self-assembled blue-emissive microwires via a heterophase S(N)2 reaction. Spatial distribution of the two species is visualized by fluorescent lifetime mapping, which reveals a core-shell structure. The ability to postfunctionalize organic 1D structures enables many applications, where the surface property plays key roles, such as an organic P-N junction and a biosensor.
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, the Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Xiao
X
Wang
Jing
J
Yan
Yan
Y
Zhou
Jian
J
Pei
D008027:Light; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D009281:Naphthalenes; D013876:Thiophenes; C556056:blue-Br compound; C556057:blue-H compound