Liquid-Crystalline Fullerodendrimers which Display Columnar Phases

Frustrated Layered Self-Assembly Induced Superlattice from Two-Dimensional Nanosheets

Here we reported a hierarchical self-assembly approach toward well-defined superlattices in supramolecular liquid crystals by fullerene-based sphere-cone block molecules. The fullerenes crystallize to form monolayer nanosheets intercalated by the attached soft hydrocarbon cones. The frustration caused by cross-sectional area mismatch between the spheres and the somewhat oversize cones leads to a unique lamellar superlattice whereby each stack of six pairs of alternating sphere-cone sublayers is followed by a cone double layer. While such areal mismatch problems in soft matter are usually solved by interface curvature, the lamellar superlattice solution is best suited to systems with rigid layers. Meanwhile, formation of the superlattice significantly improves the material's transient electron conductivity, with the maximum value being among the highest for π-conjugated organic materials. The design principle of solving steric frustration by forming a superlattice opens a new avenue toward self-assembled optoelectronic materials.

Supramolecular One-Dimensional n/p-Nanofibers

Currently, there is a broad interest in the control over creating ordered electroactive nanostructures, in which electron donors and acceptors are organized at similar length scales. In this article, a simple and efficient procedure is reported en-route towards the construction of 1D arrays of crystalline pristine C₆₀ and phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) coated onto supramolecular fibers based on exTTF-pentapeptides. The resulting n/p-nanohybrids have been fully characterized by a variety of spectroscopic (FTIR, UV-Vis, circular dichroism, Raman and transient absorption), microscopic (AFM, TEM, and SEM), and powder diffraction (X-ray) techniques. Our experimental findings document the tendency of electroactive exTTF-fibers to induce the crystallization of C₆₀ and PCBM, on one hand, and to afford 1D n/p-nanohybrids, on the other hand. Furthermore, photogenerated radical ion pairs, formed upon visible light irradiation of the n/p-nanohybrids, feature lifetimes on the range of 0.9–1.2 ns.

Self-organisation of dodeca-dendronized fullerene into supramolecular discs and helical columns containing a nanowire-like core

Twelve chiral and achiral self-assembling dendrons have been grafted onto a [60]fullerene hexa-adduct core by copper-catalyzed alkyne azide "click" cycloaddition. The structure adopted by these compounds was determined by the self-assembling peripheral dendrons. These twelve dendrons mediate the self-organisation of the dendronized [60]fullerene into a disc-shaped structure containing the [60]fullerene in the centre. The fullerene-containing discs self-organise into helical supramolecular columns with a fullerene nanowire-like core, forming a 2D columnar hexagonal periodic array. These unprecedented supramolecular structures and their assemblies are expected to provide new developments in chiral complex molecular systems and their application to organic electronics and solar cells.

Segregated donor-acceptor columns in liquid crystals that exhibit highly efficient ambipolar charge transport

Liquid crystalline donor (i.e., phthalocyanine) was covalently linked to acceptor (i.e, fullerene) to achieve efficient charge-transport properties in a liquid crystalline phase. The columnar structure exhibited highly efficient ambipolar charge-transport character, demonstrating the potential utility of the strategy in organic electronics.

Nanoparticles in liquid crystals and liquid crystalline nanoparticles

Combinations of liquid crystals and materials with unique features as well as properties at the nanoscale are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to recent developments, i.e., since 2007, in areas ranging from liquid crystal-nanoparticle dispersions to nanomaterials forming liquid crystalline phases after surface modification with mesogenic or promesogenic moieties. Experimental and synthetic approaches are summarized, design strategies compared, and potential as well as existing applications discussed. Finally, a critical outlook into the future of this fascinating field of liquid crystal research is provided.

Ribbonlike assembly of molecules composed of fulleropyrrolidine and PUA dendron

The hybrid molecules composed of fulleropyrrolidine and poly(urethane amide) dendron of the third generation have been synthesized, and their self-assembling in THF/water mixtures has been studied. By TEM, AFM, and SAXS methods it was established that molecules form ribbonlike aggregates with the ordered layers of fullerene derivatives situated inside of the ribbons. Microscale length and high ratio width/thickness were detected for the ribbons. The ability of amides and urethanes to initiate a coupling of dendron-fragments by means of hydrogen bonding has been considered as mainly responsible for anisotropic interaction of hybrid molecules and for the ribbonlike aggregates formation in THF/water mixtures.

Self-organisation of fullerene-containing conical supermesogens

A molecular model of cubic building blocks is used to describe the mesomorphism of conical fullerenomesogens. Calculations based on density functional molecular theory and on Monte Carlo computer simulations give qualitatively similar results that are also in good agreement with the experimentally observed mesomorphic behaviour. The columnar and lamellar mesophases obtained are non-polar, and their relative stability is controlled by a single model parameter representing the softness of the repulsive interactions among the building blocks of the conical molecules.

Liquid−Crystalline Janus-Type Fullerodendrimers Displaying Tunable Smectic−Columnar Mesomorphism

Janus-type liquid-crystalline fullerodendrimers were synthesized via the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddtition of two mesomorphic dendrons and C60. By assembling poly(aryl ester) dendrons functionalized with cyanobiphenyl groups, displaying lamellar mesomorphism, with poly(benzyl ether) dendrons carrying alkyl chains, which display columnar mesomorphism, we could tailor by design the liquid-crystalline properties of the title compounds as a function of each dendron size. The liquid-crystalline properties were examined by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Depending on the dendrimer generations, smectic (SmC and/or SmA phases) or columnar (Colr-c2mm or Colr-p2gg phases) mesomorphism was obtained. The supramolecular organization is governed by (1) the adequacy of the cross-sectional area of the dendrons, (2) the microsegregation of the dendrimer, (3) the deformation of the dendritic core, and (4) the dipolar interactions between the cyanobiphenyl groups. Comparison of the mesomorphic properties of two fullerodendrimers with those of model compounds (fullerene-free analogues) indicated that the C60 unit does not influence the type of mesophase that is formed. Molecular properties determined in solution (permanent dipole moment, specific dielectric polarization, molar Kerr constant) confirm that microsegregation persists in solution and strengthen the models proposed for the structure of the mesophases.

Liquid crystalline dendrimers

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the field of liquid crystalline dendrimers. Such a fast development is, among other things, driven by the multiple possibilities offered by combining the mesomorphic properties of single mesogenic subunits with the supermolecular and versatile architectures of dendrimers to yield a new class of highly functional materials. The induction and the control of the mesomorphic properties (phase type and stability) in dendrimers can be achieved by a dedicated molecular design which depends on the chemical nature and structure of both the functional groups and the dendritic matrix. In particular, the intrinsic connectivity of the dendrimer such as the multivalency of the focal core and the multiplicity of the branches, both controlling the geometrical rate of growth, or the dendritic generation, plays a crucial role and influences at various stages the subtle relationships between the supermolecular structure and the mesophase structure and stability. In this critical review article, an account of the various types of dendritic systems that form liquid-crystalline mesophases along with a description of the self-organization of representative case-study supermolecules into liquid crystalline mesophases will be discussed. Some basics of thermotropic liquid crystals and dendrimers will be given in the introduction. Then, in the following sections, selected examples including side-chain, main-chain, fullerodendrimers, shape-persistent dendrimers, supramolecular dendromesogens and metallodendrimers, as representative families of LC dendrimers, will be described. In the conclusion some further developments will be highlighted. This review will not cover liquid crystalline hyperbranched and dendronized polymers that might be considered as being somehow less structurally "perfect".

A dendritic fullerene-porphyrin dyad

We describe the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of a fullerene derivative whose structure includes a Zn-porphyrin and a second generation liquid-crystalline (LC) dendrimer. The size of the fullerene and porphyrin units with respect to the size of the LC dendrimer prevents the formation of liquid-crystalline phases. However, this system gives interesting photoinduced electron transfer phenomena. Compound has been investigated by steady state and time resolved fluorescence as well as transient absorption spectroscopy in polar and apolar solvents. We demonstrate that the fluorescence of the porphyrin unit in is quenched compared to the Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin used as reference. Femto- and picosecond transient absorption permit to identify the formation of a radical ion pair while nanosecond experiments allowed the determination of the charge recombination lifetimes.

An optically-active liquid-crystalline hexa-adduct of [60]fullerene which displays supramolecular helical organization

Polyaddition of mesogenic moieties to C60 were found to yield chiral supermolecular nanoparticles which exhibit iridescent helical chiral nematic phases.