0000000000595551
AUTHOR
Helena Isla
Bowl-shape electron donors with absorptions in the visible range of the solar spectrum and their supramolecular assemblies with C 60
We describe the synthesis, electronic, optical and photophysical properties of a family of three electron-donor bowl-shaped organic molecules that absorb light in the whole range of the visible spectrum (up to 800 nm in one case), and associate C60 in solution with binding constants in the range of 104–102 M−1 as measured from both UV-vis and fluorescence titrations in several solvents. These molecules are π-extended derivatives of tetrathiafulvalene, based on a truxene core to which two or three units of dithiole are covalently attached. The inclusion of the bulky dithiole groups is responsible for their bowl-shape geometry, which allows them to associate with C60, and their electron-donor…
Three dimensional nanoscale analysis reveals aperiodic mesopores in a covalent organic framework and conjugated microporous polymer.
The integrated analytical approach developed in this study offers a powerful methodology for the structural characterisation of complex molecular nanomaterials. Structures of a covalent organic framework based on boronate esters (COF-5) and a conjugated microporous polymer (Aza-CMP) have been investigated by a combination of several electron microscopy techniques elucidating the three-dimensional topology of the complex polycrystalline (COF) and non-crystalline (CMP) materials. Unexpected, aperiodic mesoporous channels of 20-50 nm in diameter were found to be penetrating the COF and CMP particles, which cannot be detected by X-ray diffraction techniques. The mesopores appear to be stable un…
A bis-exTTF macrocyclic receptor that associates C60 with micromolar affinity
An exTTF-based macrocyclic receptor that associates C(60) with a binding constant10(6) M(-1) in chlorobenzene at room temperature is described. This represents an improvement of 3 orders of magnitude with respect to the previous examples of exTTF-based receptors and one of the highest binding constants toward C(60) reported to date.
Exploiting multivalent nanoparticles for the supramolecular functionalization of graphene with a nonplanar recognition motif.
The supramolecular modification of planar graphene with the geometri- cally mismatched, curved 9,10-di(1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) molecule is demonstrated. The exTTF-graphene interaction is governed by p-p and CH-p interactions, with a negligible contribution from charge transfer. We amplified these weak forces through multivalent gold nanoparticles. Our re- sults show that planarity is not a prerequisite for recognition motifs for graphene.