Influence of imide-substituents on the H-type aggregates of perylene diimides bearing cetyloxy side-chains at bay positions

The efficient triplet states formation of Se-modified PDI dimers and tetramers in solvents

The triplet excited states of molecules play an important role in photophysical processes, which has attracted great research interest. Perylene diimide (PDI) is a widely studied material closely associated with the generation of triplet states, and it is highly anticipated to become an electron acceptor material for improving photovoltaic conversion efficiency. In this work, we prepared dimers and tetramers composed of selenium-modified PDI-C5 (N,N'-bis(6-undecyl) perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide)) units. We investigated the photophysical processes of these dimers and tetramers in chloroform and toluene using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Both the dimers and tetramers undergo efficient triplet state formation processes in the solvents. Solvents with higher polarity facilitate charge transfer thereby promote the triplet states formation. The differences in the configurations of the dimer and tetramer molecules lead to variations in triplet states generation. The twisted angles in the tetramer restricted the intramolecular electronic coupling, posing certain hindrances to exciton coupling and lowering the intramolecular CT characteristics. The emission of excimer in tetramers also competes with the triplet states formation. The research demonstrates the influence of various factors on the generation of triplet states of PDI oligomers.

Stable organic polymer anode for high rate and fast charge sodium based dual-ion battery

Considering the extensive resources, flexible structural designability, and abundant active sites, organic electrodes have been considered as the ideal sodium storage materials. However, organic materials generally face the limitations of unstable and dissolved characteristic, leading to a poor cyclic stability. In this work, we proposed a carbon nanotube (CNT) modified polyimide as the anode for sodium-based dual-ion battery (SDIB). The polyimide remains well the structure and morphology of monomer with a stable conjugated structure and high degree of crystallinity, effectively enhancing the electrochemical performance of the SDIBs. Also, the cooperation with CNT particularly improves the ion conductivity of the anode and advances the rate performance. Combined with an ionic liquid electrolyte, the constructed dual-ion battery exhibits excellent rate capability, high specific discharge capacity and stable cycling performance. It delivers a specific discharge capacity of 119.3 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C (1 C=100 mA g-1 ) and still has a specific discharge capacity of 82.3 mA h g-1 even after 1000 cycles at 10 C. Besides, the system displays a low self-discharge rate and stable fast charging performance, which is expected to be applied in the large-scale electrochemical energy storage devices and inspire the future development of SDIBs.

Perylenediimide regioisomers with tunable physicochemical and charge-transport properties

Two perylenediimide (PDI) regioisomers with the central core substituted at the ortho (Y-αPDI) and bay (Y-βPDI) areas of the PDIs were successfully prepared. The regioisomeric effects on the physicochemical and charge-transport properties were thoroughly investigated. The results unravel that Y-βPDI shows ambipolar transport with higher mobilities compared to its α-counterpart, which is due to its favourable molecular geometry, stronger intermolecular interaction and improved electron-withdrawing ability.

Insights into the Intrinsic Factors Affecting the NIR Reflectance Based on Rylene Diimide Molecules

A clear understanding of the relationships between molecular structure and NIR reflectance (700–2500 nm) behavior is important and highly desirable for developing appropriate NIR-reflective materials to combat NIR heat radiation from sunlight. In this research, three groups of imide-based compounds have been adopted to investigate the influence of the intrinsic molecular structures on the NIR-reflective properties. It is found out that for the compounds with alkyl groups, the NIR reflectance will increase as the degree of the conjugated backbone increases, especially for the reflectance from 1750 nm to 2500 nm. In addition, despite that the alkyl or amine groups deteriorate the NIR reflectance, the NIR reflectance varies within a certain interval and the isomers with branched alkyl groups show identical or smaller NIR reflectance than those of isomers with linear alkyl groups. For different compounds, crystallinity seems to almost have no relationship with their NIR reflectance.

Elucidation of Selectivity for Silver Ion Based on Metal-Induced H-Type Aggregation of Fluorescent Receptor

In present work, a new substituted phthalonitrile derivative was prepared by the nucleophilic displacement reaction and then highly soluble zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) with four peripheral 1-hydroxyhexan-3-ylthio groups was synthesized by cyclotetramerization and characterized by FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMRs spectroscopies, fluorescence and UV-vis measurements. The optical property and quantum yield of ZnPc were elucidated in mixed solvent of ethanol/water with varying compositions. The pH-dependent fluorescence and absorbance spectra of ZnPc in the absence and presence of Ag⁺ ions were obtained to elucidate the optimum pH value that is convenient for stable complex formation in predetermined mixture. A comparative study for recognition of Ag⁺ ion has been carried out to evaluate the effect of the solution parameters on selective sensing ability of ZnPc as a fluorescent receptor. Interference effect was investigated by spectrofluorometric titration based on fluorescence quenching of ZnPc upon addition of Ag⁺ ion in the presence of foreign metal ions. Stepwise complexation/decomplexation cycles with Na₂S-titration by fluorescence quenching/enhancement were investigated to establish the reversible response rate and reusability of ZnPc toward Ag⁺ ions. Graphical Abstract Selective determination of silver ion based on H-type aggregation of zinc phthalocyanine.

Aggregation Effects on Pigment Coatings: Pigment Red 179 as a Case Study

Here, we have studied, with a combined experimental and computational approach, the effect of the crystal environment and aggregation on the electronic properties of Pigment Red 179, which affect both its color and optical energy gap. Spectra acquired in the near-infrared and visible range of energies suggest that this molecule is indeed a "cool" dye, which can be employed as a red pigment that provides effective color coverage to different substrates without contributing to their heating during light irradiation. Spectra acquired on different polymer mixtures at different pigment concentrations (i.e., 2.5-10 wt %) suggest that absorption features depend on chromophoric arrangements promoted by the strong intermolecular π-π interactions. Calculations, performed at the time-dependent density functional theory level, allowed to both attribute the nature of the electronic transitions causing the observed spectra involved and understand the effect of the environment. Indeed, the visible spectra of the pigment is dominated by two localized transitions, with negligible charge transfer for both a dye monomer and dimer either in vacuum or acetonitrile solution. Instead, models including the crystal environment of the pigment show the presence of a high-wavelength S1 ← S0 charge transfer transition between two adjacent molecules, in quantitative agreement with the experimental absorption energy of the crystal pigment.

Photophysical, electrochemical, self-assembly, and molecular packing properties of a sulfur-decorated perylene derivative

A sulfur-decorated perylene derivative, 1-propanethiol-N,N′-dicyclohexyl perylene-3,4,9,10 tetracarboxylic diimide (PTPDI), was synthesized and fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, HRMS, UV–vis absorption, fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence quantum yield, cyclic voltammetry, and thermogravimetric techniques. The optical, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopies were employed to study its self-assembly process. The photophysical properties were affected strongly by modifying the propanethiol unit linking to the perylene core. Furthermore, the chromophore showed two irreversible oxidations and two quasi-reversible reductions in dichloromethane at modest potential. The optical properties of PTPDI in various conditions and complementary density functional theory calculations were reported. Due to steric hindrance of the bulky n-propyl mercaptan substituent, PTPDI molecules are arranged in slipped face-to-face fashion to form J-aggregates. Thus, the intermolecular π–π actions of the molecule are weak, causing its high luminescence efficiency. In the meantime, the space between perylene cores is very short (3.45 Å), which is favorable for the hopping transportation of charge carrier from one molecule to an adjacent one. PTPDI could be a candidate material for acquiring a well-defined organic nanostructure with excellent charge-transporting and light-emitting capabilities.