Emergent Self-Assembly Pathways to Multidimensional Hierarchical Assemblies using a Hetero-Seeding Approach.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Controlled self-assembly of molecular building blocks into complex hierarchical structures is a significant challenge.
• Perylenediimide-based molecules (PDIs) are versatile building blocks for nanomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore a seeded growth approach using hetero-seeds to access novel self-assembly pathways.
• To create complex 1D, 2D, and 3D hierarchical nanostructures from PDIs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a seeded growth strategy with perylenediimide-based molecules (PDIs 1-4).
• Employed hetero-seeds with different compositions and morphologies than the molecular building blocks.
• Investigated the self-assembly of PDI 1 using nanotube and microribbon seeds.
• Examined the self-assembly of PDI 2 using hetero-seeds from PDI 3.

Main Results:

• Achieved the formation of unprecedented 3D scroll-like and scarf-like hierarchical nanostructures from PDI 1.
• Generated 1D tubular heterojunctions from PDI 2 by initiating hidden self-assembly pathways.
• Demonstrated that hetero-seeds can direct self-assembly into complex hierarchical architectures.

Conclusions:

• The seeded growth approach with hetero-seeds provides access to new self-assembly pathways.
• This strategy enables the controlled formation of complex and functional hierarchical nanostructures.
• Offers new opportunities for creating emergent functional materials from small molecule precursors.