Controlled aggregation of peptide-substituted perylene-bisimidesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthetic details, spectroscopic characterisation, organogelation experiment and additional circular dichroism, absorbance and emission spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cc31465g

Controlled aggregation of perylene bisimides in multiple modes has been achieved via symmetric substitution with peptides. Using optical probes of aggregation, the balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces are found to play a key role in directing self assembly and are exploited via solvent, pH, and specific extrinsic ion effects. Controlled aggregation of perylene bisimides in multiple modes has been achieved via symmetric substitution with peptides.