Novel organogelators based on amine-derived hexaazatrinaphthylene

Novel C(3)-symmetrical heteroaromatic hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) gelators symmetrically end-substituted with pendant aromatic and aliphatic amines were synthesized. Some of these π-conjugated structures induce self-assembly, forming fibers able to gelate solvents of different polarity at low wt% as demonstrated by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.     

Hexaazatrinaphthylenes with Different Twists

A synthetic strategy that allows the induction of twist angles of different sizes in 5,6,11,12,17,18‐hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) chromophores is reported. The different twist angles are accompanied by measurable changes in the emission and electrochemical characteristics of HATNA.     

Inverted Organic Solar Cells with Improved Performance using Varied Cathode Bu?er Layers

Organic solar cells with inverted planar heterojunction structure based on subphthalocya-nine and C₆₀ were fabricated using several kinds of materials as cathode buffer layer (CBL), including tris-8-hydroxy-quinolinato aluminum (Al_q3), bathophenanthroline (Bphen), bathocuproine, 2,3,8,9,14,15-hexakis-dodecyl-sulfanyl-5,6,11,12,17,18-hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA), and an inorganic compound of Cs₂CO₃. The influence of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level and the electron mobility of organic CBL on the solar cells perfor-mance was compared. The results showed that Al_q3, Bphen, and HATNA could significantly improve the device performance. The highest efficiency was obtained from device with an-nealed HATNA as CBL and increased for more than 7 times compared with device without CBL. Furthermore, the simulation results with space charge-limited current theory indicated that the Schottky barrier at the organic/electrode interface in inverted OSC structure was reduced for 27% by inserting HATNA CBL.     

Hexaazatrinaphthylene Derivatives: Efficient Electron‐Transporting Materials with Tunable Energy Levels for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) derivatives have been successfully shown to function as efficient electron‐transporting materials (ETMs) for perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The cells demonstrate a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.6 % with negligible hysteresis. This study provides one of the first nonfullerene small‐molecule‐based ETMs for high‐performance p–i–n PVSCs.     

High charge-carrier mobility in pi-deficient discotic mesogens: design and structure-property relationship

Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) derivatives with six alkylsulfanyl chains of different length (hexyl, octyl, decyl and dodecyl) have been designed to obtain new potential electron-carrier materials. The electron-deficient nature of these compounds has been demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry. Their thermotropic behaviour has been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and polarised optical microscopy. The supramolecular organisation of these discotic molecules has been explored by temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction on powders and oriented samples. In addition to various liquid crystalline columnar phases (Col(hd), Col(rd)), an anisotropic plastic crystal phase is demonstrated to exist. The charge-carrier mobilities have been measured with the pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave-conductivity technique. They are found to be higher in the crystalline than in the liquid crystalline phases, with maximum values of approximately 0.9 and 0.3 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), respectively, for the decylsulfanyl derivative. Mobilities strongly depend on the nature of the side chains.     

Self‐Directed Orientation of Molecular Columns Based on n‐Type Hexaazatrinaphthylenes (HATNAs) for Electron Transport

Self‐organizing n‐type hexaazatrinaphthylenes (HATNAs) with various bay‐located side chains have been synthesized. The HATNA derivatives are able to form long‐range molecular columns with self‐directed growth directions. In particular, alkyl‐substituted HATNAs showed in‐plane molecular columns with axes parallel to substrates, whereas the columnar orientation of the HATNAs with alkylethynyl or alkylthio groups strongly depended on the length of the introduced side chains. Interestingly, the derivative with octylthio chains exhibited out‐of‐plane molecular columns, in which electron mobility of up to 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1 was determined through the time‐of‐flight technique, highlighting the fact that such molecular columns based on bay‐substituted HATNAs are promising n‐type semiconductors for device applications.     

Theoretical study on self-assembly in organic materials

Theoretical work related to the self-assembly of organic materials was dealt with, and the various mechanisms leading to self-assembly, such as transition metal mediated self-assembly, constraint induced self-assembly, covalent bond based self-assembly and van der Waals interaction driven self-assembly, etc., were discussed. The formation of ordered structures could be attributed to the competition between short range attractive forces and long-range repulsion, which was arising from dipole interaction or may result from a different mechanism based on a purely repulsive isotropic short-range pair potential with two characteristic length scales. Such mechanism could be exploited in the study of self-assembly process. First principles SAPT(DFT) interaction energy calculations, combined with the Williams-Stone-Misquitta method, offer the ability to improve the molecular dynamics (MD) accuracy which could in turn be used in the prediction of crystal structures and self-assembly tendency. The combination of experimental and theoretical studies could open new breakthroughs over the design, synthesis, and characterization of self-assembled materials.     

Lyotropic liquid crystal engineering-ordered nanostructured small molecule amphiphile self-assembly materials by design

Future nanoscale soft matter design will be guided to a large extent by the teachings of amphiphile (lipid or surfactant) self-assembly. Ordered nanostructured lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases may form in select mixtures of amphiphile and solvent. To reproducibly engineer the low energy amphiphile self-assembly of materials for the future, we must first learn the design principles. In this critical review we discuss the evolution of these design rules and in particular discuss recent key findings regarding (i) what drives amphiphile self-assembly, (ii) what governs the self-assembly structures that are formed, and (iii) how can amphiphile self-assembly materials be used to enhance product formulations, including drug delivery vehicles, medical imaging contrast agents, and integral membrane protein crystallisation media. We focus upon the generation of 'dilutable' lyotropic liquid crystal phases with two- and three-dimensional geometries from amphiphilic small molecules (225 references).     

Anion control of the self-assembly of 2,3-diarylpyrazines with silver(I) salts

The synthesis and characterization of three one-dimensional coordination polymers formed on self-assembly of 2,3-diarylpyrazines with silver(I) salts are presented. A linear double-stranded coordination polymer was formed on self-assembly of 2,3-bis(3'5'-dimethylphenyl)pyrazine with silver(I) tetrafluoroborate. An essentially linear double-strand coordination polymer was formed on self-assembly of 2,3-bis(3'5'-dimethylphenyl)pyrazine with silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate. In contrast a helical silver-pyrazine coordination polymer with extensive intrastrand pi-stacking was formed on self-assembly of 2,3-diphenylpyrazine with silver(I) trifluoroacetate.     

Amplification of Electronic Circular Dichroism—A Tool to Follow Self-Assembly of Chiral Molecular Capsules

Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) can be used to study various aspects of self-assembly (definition of stoichiometric ratios, chirality amplification during self-assembly, host-guest complexation). In this work, we show that ECD is a valuable tool for monitoring the self-assembly of chiral peptide-based capsules. By analyzing the signs, intensities, and temperature dependences of ECD bands, the effects of the non-specific processes can be separated from the restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM) caused by discrete self-assembly. Analysis of experimental and theoretical ECD spectra show that the differences between assembled and non-assembled species originate from induction of inherently chiral conformation and restriction of conformational freedom that leads to amplification of ECD signals during self-assembly of discrete species.     

Study on the synthesis of poly(diglycidyl maleate-co-stearyl methacrylate) and morphology conversion of their self-assembly systems

A novel polymer of poly(diglycidyl maleate-co-stearyl methacrylate) (P(DGMA-co-SMA)) was synthesized by reaction between poly(maleic anhydride-co-stearyl methacrylate) (P(MA-co-SMA)) and epichlorohydrin. The self-assembly behavior of the resultant copolymer was investigated. It was found that the spheral aggregates could converse to nanorods after being aged for 2.5 days and nanolines composed of the nanorods were obtained after being aged for an additional 5.5 days. The mechanism of their self-assembly behavior and morphology conversion of self-assembly systems is discussed.     

Thermodynamic properties of the unique self-assembly of {Mo72Fe30} inorganic macro-ions in salt-free and salt-containing aqueous solutions

Static and dynamic laser light scattering techniques are used to monitor the slow self-assembly of 2.5-nm-diameter, hollow spherical, fully hydrophilic heteropolyoxometalate {Mo72Fe30} macro-ions into single-layer vesicle-like "blackberries" (averaging approximately 50-60 nm in diameter) in dilute salt-free and salt-containing aqueous solutions, to obtain the thermodynamic properties of the unique self-assembly. A very high activation energy is observed during the transition from the single ion (general solute state) to blackberries (so-called "second solute state"), which might be responsible for the interestingly slow self-assembly process in dilute solutions. The thermodynamic parameters of the blackberry formation can be affected by adding simple electrolytes into the solution, because the electrostatic interactions are responsible for the unique self-assembly, and the effects of various anions and cations (in the low salt concentration regimes) are discussed. Multivalent anions make the single {Mo72Fe30} macro-ions more stable and make the blackberry formation more difficult. Small cations carrying more charges tend to accelerate the self-assembly process. This is the first study on the thermodynamic properties of the novel self-assembly in dilute solutions and the equilibrium and transition between the two solute states of macro-ions in solution.     

纳米材料的自组装研究进展

本文主要评述了近年来纳米材料自组装的研究进展，即对以纳米材料(包括零维的纳米粒子和一维的纳米管/线)为单元而开展的自组装方面的工作进行了介绍。将纳米材料自组装为各种尺度的有序结构会产生更优异的整体的协同性质，这对于以纳米材料为基础而构筑的微纳米器件有着重要的意义。由于目前纳米材料的研究主要集中在零维和一维体系，因此，本文分别就此两种体系的自组装行为进行了评述。具体内容包括：单分子层薄膜修饰的无机纳米粒子的自组装、大分子修饰的无机纳米粒子的自组装、未被修饰的无机纳米粒子的自组装；表面张力及毛细管力诱导的一维纳米材料的自组装、模板诱导的一维纳米材料的自组装、静电力诱导的一维纳米材料的自组装。     

Surface-induced self-assembly of dipeptides onto nanotextured surfaces

There is an increasing interest for the utilization of biomolecules for fabricating novel nanostructures due to their ability for specific molecular recognition, biocompatibility, and ease of availability. Among these molecules, diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) dipeptide is considered as one of the simplest molecules that can generate a family of self-assembly based nanostructures. The properties of the substrate surface, on which the self-assembly process of these peptides occurs, play a critical role. Herein, we demonstrated the influence of surface texture and functionality on the self-assembly of Phe-Phe dipeptides using smooth silicon surfaces, anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes, and poly(chloro-p-xylylene) (PPX) films having columnar and helical morphologies. We found that helical PPX films, AAO, and silicon surfaces induce similar self-assembly processes and the surface hydrophobicity has a direct influence for the final dipeptide structure whether being in an aggregated tubular form or creating a thin film that covers the substrate surface. Moreover, the dye staining data indicates that the surface charge properties and hence the mechanism of the self-assembly process are different for tubular structures as opposed to the peptidic film. We believe that our results may contribute to the control of surface-induced self-assembly of peptide molecules and this control can potentially allow the fabrication of novel peptide based materials with desired morphologies and unique functionalities for different technological applications.     

规则结构钛酸盐自组装聚集体的制备

在水热条件下, 采用不同的钛源, 通过控制溶液碱度和冷却温度等反应条件, 利用无模板自组装技术, 在钛酸盐薄膜表面及溶液相中制备了鸟巢状和绒球状钛酸盐纳米带自组装聚集体以及海胆状钛酸盐纳米管自组装聚集体. 通过引入碳酸钠模板, 制备出形貌新颖的钛酸钠-碳酸钠香蒲状自组装聚集体复合材料. 初步研究了纳米自组装聚集体的形成机理, 认为其形成经历了一维纳米结构(纳米带或纳米管)的生长和一维纳米结构的自组装2个过程.     

Self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules: A review on the recent computer simulation results

We provided a short review on the recent progresses in computer simulations of adsorption and self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules. Owing to the extensive applications of amphiphilic molecules, it is very important to understand thoroughly the effects of the detailed chemistry, solid surfaces and the degree of confinement on the aggregate morphologies and kinetics of self-assembly for amphiphilic systems. In this review we paid special attention on (i) morphologies of adsorbed surfactants on solid surfaces, (ii) self-assembly in confined systems, and (iii) kinetic processes involving amphiphilic molecules.     

Pathway-dependent self-assembly of perylene diimide/peptide conjugates in aqueous medium

Most molecular self-assembly strategies involve equilibrium systems, leading to a single thermodynamic product as a result of weak, reversible non-covalent interactions. Yet, strong non-covalent interactions may result in non-equilibrium self-assembly, in which structural diversity is achieved by forming several kinetic products based on a single covalent building block. We demonstrate that well-defined amphiphilic molecular systems based on perylene diimide/peptide conjugates exhibit kinetically controlled self-assembly in aqueous medium, enabling pathway-dependent assembly sequences, in which different organic nanostructures are evolved in a stepwise manner. The self-assembly process was characterized using UV/Vis circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Our findings show that pathway-controlled self-assembly may significantly broaden the methodology of non-covalent synthesis.     

环糊精与表面活性剂主客体作用诱导的金纳米棒可控自组装

The self-assembly of colloidal nanocrystals has emerged as a powerful strategy for the bottom-up fabrication of functional materials and nanodevices. Recently, the self-assembly of gold nanorods (GNRs) has attracted significant attention because of their unique plasmonic properties, but the realization of their adjustable self-assembly of GNRs through facile and effective approaches remains challenging. In this work, the controllable self-assembly of GNRs in aqueous solution was realized through the host-guest interactions of cyclodextrins (CDs) and the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) molecules adsorbed on the surface of the GNRs. The self-assembly of GNRs was readily achieved by the addition of aqueous α-CD solutions with varied concentrations into aqueous dispersions of CTAB-stabilized GNRs. At a relatively low α-CD concentration, slow aggregation of the GNRs occurred, resulting in their side-by-side assembly. This was revealed by the blue shift of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band in the absorption spectra and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. On the other hand, when a higher concentration of α-CD was added, fast aggregation of the GNRs occurred, resulting in their end-to-end assembly. This was revealed by the red shift in the LSPR band together with the TEM observations. If β-CD was employed instead of α-CD, the self-assembly of GNRs could also be induced, although a relatively higher concentration of β-CD was required to achieve the extent of aggregation similar to that induced by α-CD, indicating that the supramolecular host–guest interaction between CDs and the surfactant CTAB was crucial to the directed self-assembly of GNRs. Furthermore, the α-CD-induced assembly was inhibited on addition of excess CTAB, confirming that the supramolecular interaction of α-CD and CTAB played a key role in directing the self-assembly of the GNRs. Based on these experimental results, a possible mechanism for the α-CD-induced self-assembly of GNRs was proposed as follows: at a lower α-CD concentration, the gradual formation of the host-guest inclusion complex α-CD/CTAB led to the partial replacement of the highly charged CTAB bilayers adsorbed on the GNRs by the less charged complex, which resulted in a slow side-by-side assembly of the GNRs; at a higher α-CD concentration, the CTAB bilayers were quickly replaced by the α-CD/CTAB complex, and the CTAB molecules adsorbed at both ends of the GNRs were almost completely replaced, resulting in a fast end-to-end assembly of the GNRs. Additionally, on the basis of the hydrolysis of α-cyclodextrin catalyzed by α-amylase, the self-assembly of GNRs directed by the host-guest interaction could be used to realize the feasible detection of α-amylase in solutions. This self-assembly strategy mediated by the host-guest interaction may be extendable to other colloidal systems involving surfactants adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles, and may open new avenues for the controllable self-assembly of non-spherical nanoparticles.