Langmuir, Vol.35, No.16, 5626-5634, 2019
Multiscale Self-Assembly of a Phenyl-Flanked Diketopyrrolopyrrole Derivative: A Solution-Processable Building Block for pi-Conjugated Supramolecular Polymers
We report a solution-processable pi-conjugated molecular building block (denoted as PhDPP) consisting of a rigid and planar core of phenyl-flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole and "soft" branched alkoxy chains that endow the solubility in a variety of organic solvents. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding in PhDPP was revealed in nonpolar solvents above a threshold of concentration and below a critical point of temperature. The strong intermolecular interaction mainly contributed by the hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi interaction between PhDPP molecules promoted the formation of supramolecular polymeric structures in both solution and solid states and at interfaces. The supramolecular polymeric properties enabled solution-based processing of PhDPP under a variety of conditions into different structures including fibers and uniform thin films. The structure-property relationship that we established in the present system of PhDPP from the molecular to supramolecular level will be important to solution-process this type of H-bonding pi-conjugated molecules for a variety of applications such as optoelectronic devices.