Controlled Self‐Assembly of Organic Nanowires and Platelets Using Dipolar and Hydrogen‐Bonding Interactions

Synergistic dipole–dipole and hydrogen‐bonding interactions are used to assemble nanostructured materials. Precipitation of a hydrogen‐bonding donor–acceptor molecule 8‐[[p‐[bis(ethyl)amino]phenyl]azo]‐isobutylflavin (ABFL) yields nanowires ≈50–150 nm in diameter and lengths of several millimeters. Precipitation of the non‐hydrogen‐bonding analog, methylated ABFL (MABFL), generates micrometer‐sized hexagonal platelets that are 5–10 µm in length, 1–5 µm in width, and 0.1–0.5 µm thick. The structural similarity of the two molecules allows intermediate morphologies to be formed via co‐precipitation. Doping experiments demonstrate efficient control over nanowire length and diameter due to the disruption of the hydrogen bonding within the nanowires. Synergistic dipole–dipole and hydrogen‐bonding interactions are used to assemble nanostructured materials. Precipitation of a hydrogen‐bonding donor–acceptor molecule yields nanowires ≈50–150 nm in diameter while a non‐hydrogen‐bonding analog generates hexagonal platelets (see image). The similarity of the two structures allows intermediate structures to be formed via co‐precipitation.