title: Kinetically controlled assembly of a spirocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon into polyhedral micro/nanocrystals.
abstract: Nonplane molecules with multiple large aromatic planes could be promising candidates to form various polyhedral micro/nanocrystals by manipulating the different π···π stacking, tuning the cohesive energies of crystal facets, and controlling the kinetic growth process. Spirocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (SAHs) not only have two cross-shaped aromatic planes but also offer the feature of supramolecular steric hindrance, making it favorable for the heterogeneous kinetic growth into highly symmetric polyhedra. Herein, we report that a novel SAH compound, spiro[fluorene-9,7'-dibenzo[c,h]acridine]-5'-one (SFDBAO), can self-assemble into various monodispersed shapes such as hexahedra, octahedra, and decahedra through the variation of either different types of surfactants, such as Pluronic 123 (P123) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), or growth parameters. In addition, the possible mechanism of crystal facet growth has been proposed according to the SEM, XRD, TEM, and SAED characterization of organic polyhedral micro/nanocrystals. The unique cruciform-shaped SAHs have been demonstrated as fascinating supramolecular synthons for various highly symmetric polyhedral assembling.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics & Information Displays (KLOEID) and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zong-Qiong
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Peng-Ju
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yee-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Nai-En
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ling-Hai
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ming-Dong
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Qu-Li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huey Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hng
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qichun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons