Gelation and fluorescent organogels of a complex of perylenetetracarboxylic tetraacid with cationic surfactants

▶ A complex of PTCTA with cationic surfactants can form fluorescent organogels or crystals at different condition in toluene. ▶ The twisted- or straight-belt aggregates are created during gelation or crystallization. ▶ The formation of ordered supramolecular structures is mainly driven by π-π stacking of the H-type perylene cores. ▶ A phase diagram is built up to reflect a competition between gelation and crystallization under the conditions used.