Self-assembly of 1-D organic semiconductor nanostructures

This review focuses on the molecular design and self-assembly of a new class of crowded aromatics that form 1-D nanostructures via hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions. These molecules have a permanent dipole moment that sums as the subunits self assemble into molecular stacks. The assembly of these molecular stacks can be directed with electric fields. Depending on the nature of the side-chains, molecules can obtain the face-on or edge-on orientation upon the deposition onto a surface via spin cast technique. Site-selective steady state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, and various types of scanning probe microscopy measurements detail the intermolecular interactions that drive the aromatic molecules to self-assemble in solution to form well-ordered columnar stacks. These nanostructures, formed in solution, vary in their number, size, and structure depending on the functional groups, solvent, and concentration used. Thus, the substituents/side-groups and the proper choice of the solvent can be used to tune the intermolecular interactions. The 1-D stacks and their aggregates can be easily transferred by solution casting, thus allowing a simple preparation of molecular nanostructures on different surfaces.