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Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
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Lock-arm supramolecular ordering: a molecular construction set for cocrystallizing organic charge transfer complexes
Anthea K Blackburn1, Andrew C-H Sue, Alexander K Shveyd
1Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 5, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed a modular approach using aromatic building blocks to create large, stable organic charge transfer cocrystals. This breakthrough enables the development of advanced electronic and photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Crystallography
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Organic charge transfer cocrystals offer tunable properties like conductivity and optical nonlinearity.
- A key challenge is achieving high-quality crystalline materials for technological applications.
- Previous methods lacked efficiency in producing large, stable cocrystals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce an innovative modular approach for growing responsive organic charge transfer cocrystals.
- To overcome limitations in cocrystal growth and enhance material quality.
- To enable the fabrication of next-generation electronic and photonic devices.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a LASO-lock-arm supramolecular ordering design.
- Employed aromatic electronic donor and acceptor building blocks with complementary arms.
- Leveraged cooperative charge transfer and hydrogen-bonding interactions.
- Grew cocrystals via liquid-liquid diffusion under ambient conditions.
Main Results:
- Successfully grew centimeter-long, air-stable, and mechanically robust organic charge transfer cocrystals.
- Achieved binary cocrystals with alternating donor-acceptor structures sustained by hydrogen bonds.
- Cocrystallization process was amplified by complementary rigid and flexible arms.
- Crystals were formed within 72 hours under ambient conditions.
Conclusions:
- The LASO-lock-arm strategy provides an efficient route to high-quality, large-scale organic charge transfer cocrystals.
- These materials exhibit remarkable size, stability, and potential for innovative electronic and photonic devices.
- The modular approach facilitates the development of responsive cocrystal materials.
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