Donor–acceptor interaction-driven self-assembly of amphiphilic rod–coil molecules into supramolecular nanoassemblies

Abstract

Rigid–flexible amphiphilic molecules consisting of an aromatic segment based on pyrene and biphenyl units and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide chains self-assemble into lamellar, hexagonal columnar, and two-dimensional columnar nanostructures in the bulk state. In aqueous solution, these molecules self-assemble into nanofibers, spherical micelles, and multilayer nanotubes, depending on the chain or rod length of the molecules. Notably, ordered nanostructures of supramolecular polymers, such as single-layer curving fragments, nanofibers, and nanosheets, were constructed through charge-transfer interactions between the nanoobjects and an electron-acceptor molecule, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone. These experimental results reveal that diverse supramolecular morphologies can be controlled by tuning rod–coil molecular interactions or charge-transfer interactions between the donor and acceptor molecules.