Supramolecular self-assembly as a tool to preserve the electronic purity of perylene diimide chromophores

 
The front cover of Angewandte Chemie

Self-assembly of optically active molecules into larger supramolecular structures can be used to significantly change the optical properties of the system, by enforcing particular intermolecular interactions.

In a recent publication*, which was featured on the front page of Angewandte Chemie, a collaboration between the groups of Dr Sascha Feldmann (Rowland Institute, Harvard), Professor Sir Richard Friend, Professor Jonathan Nitschke (both Cambridge Chemistry) and Dr Joseph Prentice (Oxford Materials), examines a self-assembled molecular cage of perylene diimide (PDI), both computationally and experimentally.  The rigid cage sets the distance and orientation of the PDIs and suppresses intramolecular rotations and vibrations, leading to significantly improved properties, in contrast to the quenching seen for the free ligand.  

This work demonstrates that self-assembly can be a powerful tool for retaining and controlling the electronic properties of chromophores, bringing molecular electronics devices within reach.

 

 

* Supramolecular self-assembly as a tool to preserve the electronic purity of perylene diimide chromophores'.