Morphologies Transformation of BODIPY-Based Main Chain Supramolecular Polymers Amphiphiles: From Helical Nanowires to Nanosheets

Real-time Observation of Macroscopic Helical Morphologies under Optical Microscope: A Curious Case of π-π Stacking Driven Molecular Self-assembly of an Organic Gelator Devoid of Hydrogen Bonding

Supramolecular assemblies such as tubules/helix/double helix/helical tape etc. are usually submicron objects preventing direct observation under optical microscope. Chiral-pure form of these assemblies is important for potential applications. Herein, we report a rare phenomenon wherein a DMSO gel of a simple terpyridine derivative [(4-CNPhe)4PyTerp] produced macroscopic helical morphologies (μm length scale) which could be observed under optical microscope, formation of which could be monitored by optical videography, stable enough to withstand acidic vapour, robust enough to display reversible gel↔sol in response to acidic and ammonia vapour and sturdy enough to be maneuvered with a needle. These properties appeared to be unique to the title compound as the other related derivatives failed to display such assembly structures. SXRD and MD simulation studies suggested that weak interactions (π-π stacking) played a crucial role in the self-assembly process.

BODIPY Cored A-D-A'-D-A Type Nonfused-Ring Electron Acceptor for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells

In this work, boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) is for the first time employed as electron-deficient core (A') to construct an A-D-A'-D-A type nonfused-ring electron acceptor (NFREA) for polymer solar cells (PSCs). Among, cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) and fluorinated dicyanoindanone (DFIC) are involved as electron-donating (D) bridges and terminal A groups, respectively. Bearing with the steric BODIPY core, tMBCIC exhibits twisted configuration with dihedral angles >45^o  between BODIPY and CPDT bridges. Thus, compared with the BODIPY-free planar A-D-D-A structured bCIC, reduced aggregation, weakened intramolecular D-A interactions with up-shifted LUMO by 0.4 eV as well as blue-shifted absorption by up to 150 nm is observed in tMBCIC. Moreover, owing to the intrinsic large molar extinction coefficient from BODIPY, promoted light-harvest ability is achieved for tMBCIC, particularly in its blend films. Therefore, PSCs by using PBDB-T as donor, tMBCIC as NFREA afford superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.22% and higher open-circuit voltage (V_oc ) of 0.954 V compared to 4.47% and 0.739 V from bCIC-devices. Moreover, compared to other BODIPY-flanked electron acceptors (<5%) reported so far, BODIPY-cored tMBCIC realizes a remarkable progress in PCE. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Layered supramolecular network of cyclodextrin triplets with azobenzene-grafting polyoxometalate for dye degradation and partner-enhancement

A tri-β-cyclodextrin-armed host compound is synthesized to construct layered supramolecular network co-assembly with a doubly azobenzene-decorated polyoxometalate cluster through host-guest interaction. The porous hybrid assembly displays automatic degradation of selective dyes and the acceleration of the partner dye in both water and dichloromethane in the air.

Visible light mediated BODIPY/Azo/cyclodextrin based supramolecular polymer assemblies in different water content solutions

A novel visible light responsive supramolecular polymer based on oligo(ethylene glycol) modified BODIPY (BDP), tetramethoxyazobenzene (Azo) and dimeric β-cyclodextrin (β-CD-C) was reported.