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Spherical Supramolecular Structures Constructed via Chemically Symmetric Perylene Bisimides: Beyond Columnar Assembly |
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| Authors: | Jiahao Huang Zebin Su Prof. Mingjun Huang Prof. Rongchun Zhang Prof. Jian Wang Xueyan Feng Prof. Rui Zhang Ruimeng Zhang Wenpeng Shan Xiao-Yun Yan Qing-Yun Guo Tong Liu Yuchu Liu Yunpeng Cui Prof. Xiaopeng Li Prof. An-Chang Shi Prof. Stephen Z. D. Cheng |
| Affiliation: | 1. South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China Department of Polymer Science, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3909 USA These authors contributed equally to this work.;2. Department of Polymer Science, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3909 USA These authors contributed equally to this work.;3. South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China;4. School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210 China;5. Department of Polymer Science, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3909 USA;6. Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620 USA;7. Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1 Canada |
| Abstract: | Like other discotic molecules, self-assembled supramolecular structures of perylene bisimides (PBIs) are commonly limited to columnar or lamellar structures due to their distinct π-conjugated scaffolds and unique rectangular shape of perylene cores. The discovery of PBIs with supramolecular structures beyond layers and columns may expand the scope of PBI-based materials. A series of unconventional spherical packing phases in PBIs, including A15 phase, σ phase, dodecagonal quasicrystalline (DQC) phase, and body-centered cubic (BCC) phase, is reported. A strategy involving functionalization of perylene core with several polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cages achieved spherical assemblies of PBIs, instead of columnar assemblies, due to the significantly increased steric hindrance at the periphery. This strategy may also be employed for the discovery of unconventional spherical assemblies in other related discotic molecules by the introduction of similar bulky functional groups at their periphery. An unusual inverse phase transition sequence from a BCC phase to a σ phase was observed by increasing annealing temperature. |
| Keywords: | discotic molecules Frank-Kasper phases nanostructures perylene bisimides quasicrystalline phase |