Kinetic selection between organogel fibers and nano-ribbons of 2,3-didecyloxy-9,10-bisphenylethynyl-anthracene

Abstract

A novel organogelator, DDPEA (2,3-didecyloxy-9,10-bisphenylethynyl-anthracene), displays a very unusual polymorphism upon self-assembly. The fluorescence resulting from J-aggregates reveals that the readily formed DDPEA gel evolves into another more stable state within four hours. Confocal fluorescence microscopy shows that this kinetic metastable gel-state is constituted of nanofibers, while the thermodynamically stable state is constituted of a dispersion of nano-ribbons or -crystals. Nano-fibers or nano-ribbons can be selected upon trapping the states by drying.