Fabrication of highly fluorescent perylene bisimide nanofibers through interfacial self-assembly

Perylene diimides are typical n-type organic semiconductors with interesting optical and electronic properties. Versatile properties of these compounds are deeply related to the morphologies of the self-assembled nanostructures. Self-assembled strong red fluorescent nanofibers of N,N′-bis(1-dodecyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (D-PTCDI) were successfully prepared by a solution based phase-transfer method. Morphology of the nanostructure was characterized by optical, fluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Observed molecular self-assembly was supported by the computational predictions. Thin film of the D-PTCDI was casted on glass substrate by spin-coating. UV–vis absorption maximum of the thin film was shifted to longer wavelength than in solution. Conducting properties of the thin films were evaluated by current–voltage measurements.

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► Synthesized a new perylene bisimide.
► Molecule is with wide band gap, emission, and absorption in visible range.
► Fabricated highly luminescent nanofibres through interfacial self-assembly.
► Self-assembly process was supported by computational studies.