Oligo(phenylenevinylene) hybrids and self-assemblies: versatile materials for excitation energy transfer

Abstract

Oligo(phenylenevinylene)s (OPVs) are extensively investigated π-conjugated molecules that exhibit absorption and fluorescence in the UV-Vis spectral region, which can be widely tuned by chemical functionalisation and external control (e.g. solvent, temperature, pH). Further modulation of the optoelectronic properties of OPVs is possible by supramolecular aggregation, primarily driven by hydrogen bonding or π-stacking interactions. In recent years, extensive research work has been accomplished in exploiting the unique combination of the structural and electronic properties of OPVs, most of which has been targeted at the preparation of molecules and materials featuring photoinduced energy transfer. This review intends to offer an overview of the multicomponent arrays and self-assembled materials based on OPV which have been designed to undergo energy transfer by means of a thorough choice of excitation donor-acceptor partners. We present a few selected examples of photoactive dyads and triads containing organic moieties (e.g. fullerene, phenanthroline) as well as coordination compounds (Cu(I) complexes). We then focus more extensively on self-assembled materials containing suitably functionalised OPVs that lead to hydrogen bonded aggregates, helical structures, gels, nanoparticles, vesicles, mesostructured organic-inorganic hybrid films, functionalised nanoparticles and quantum dots. In most cases, these materials exhibit luminescence whose colour and intensity is related to the efficiency and direction of the energy transfer processes.

Reactive organogels based on isoxazole esters: alkali metal ions selective gelation and crystallization

“…LMWGs, as a kind of soft matter, have potential applications in the fields of sensors [2] , light-harvesting systems [3] , catalysis [4] , biomaterials and optoelectronic devices [5] and chiral nanomaterials [6] . Many organic motifs have been designed to form organogels, including steroids [7] , peptides [8] , ureas and amides [9] , sugars [10] , dendrimers [11] , and π-conjugated molecules [12] .…”

Self-Assembly of Bodipy-Derived Extended π-Systems

“…Fundamental understanding of electronic ET 26,50,51 in lightharvesting biological systems are possible by mimicking them using properly designed synthetic materials. In this regard, supramolecular self-assembly is a viable choice because of its capacity to organize chromophores in a desired manner and thereby influence dynamics of exciton migration.…”

Hydrogen Bonding-Controlled Photoinduced Electron and Energy Transfer

“…Such a complex goal can be achieved by integrating energy/electron transfer donor-acceptor systems in a single molecular structure [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] or by self-assembling them through highly selective and directional supramolecular interactions [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. However, the donor-acceptor system based on covalent bond connection has become more and more complex, which will make the synthesis much more complicated.…”