The Role of Fiber Agglomeration in Formation of Perylene-Based Fiber Networks

Ashish Sharma; Jonathan P. Wojciechowski; Yawei Liu; Théophile Pelras; Claire M. Wallace; Markus Müllner; Asaph Widmer-Cooper; Pall Thordarson; Girish Lakhwani

Cell Reports Physical Science (Aug 2020)

The Role of Fiber Agglomeration in Formation of Perylene-Based Fiber Networks

Ashish Sharma,
Jonathan P. Wojciechowski,
Yawei Liu,
Théophile Pelras,
Claire M. Wallace,
Markus Müllner,
Asaph Widmer-Cooper,
Pall Thordarson,
Girish Lakhwani

Affiliations

Ashish Sharma: ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Jonathan P. Wojciechowski: School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Yawei Liu: ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Théophile Pelras: Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, NSW 2006, Australia
Claire M. Wallace: ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Markus Müllner: Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, NSW 2006, Australia
Asaph Widmer-Cooper: ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, NSW 2006, Australia
Pall Thordarson: School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Girish Lakhwani: ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, NSW 2006, Australia; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 8
p. 100148

Abstract

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Summary: The agglomeration of self-assembled fibers of π-conjugated molecules is crucial to the formation of low-molecular-weight supramolecular gels. However, identification of the in situ spectroscopic signatures of fiber agglomeration has remained a challenging endeavor. Here, we use a combination of chiroptical techniques, namely circular dichroism (CD), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD), to investigate the agglomeration of self-assembled fibers of a chiral low-molecular-weight gelator, l-alanine-substituted perylene imide bis(n-butyl) ester (PIBE). Surprisingly, we find that agglomerated PIBE fibers exhibit an opposite CD signature in comparison to the isolated PIBE fibers. In contrast, the MCD and FDCD responses do not change during the agglomeration process, revealing that the local structure in the individual fibers is unperturbed. Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we conclude that the effective charge on the fibers dictates the agglomeration process and that the final geometry of the agglomerated fibers is marked by crossed nodes.

Published in Cell Reports Physical Science

ISSN: 2666-3864 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science

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