Controlled self-assembly of the perylene bisimides into rectangular and ribbon-like nanostructures

Fabricating nanostructures by the perylene bisimides (PBIs) has attracted great interests, but control over the shapes and sizes is still challenge. Herein, two chiral PBIs synthesized by 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, D-alanine (or L-alanine) and triethylene glycol monomethyl ether have been developed. A serious of H-aggregated two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures from rectangular nanostructures to ribbon-like nanostructures are self-assembled by the two PBIs through a heating, cooling and aging process in alcoholic solvents and deionized water. The aspect ratios, shapes and sizes of the 2D nanostructures could be controlled by tailoring the dissolving capacity of the solvents. The van der Waals' force and the it-it stacking interaction play key roles in the formation of the 2D nanostructures. The optical properties of the 2D nanostructures are observably influenced by the dissolving capacity of the solvents. The S0-1 vibronic transition of the perylene skeletons is confirmed to generate a strong non-radiative energy transfer in deionized water. The maximum phosphorescence lifetime is greater than 2.2 ms in deionized water. This study will offer a new view to prepare the 2D nanostructures which could be used as sensors and photocatalysts.