Volume 62, Issue 36 e202305827
Research Article

Pathway Control of π-Conjugated Supramolecular Polymers by Incorporating Donor-Acceptor Functionality

Fan Wang

Fan Wang

Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Rui Liao

Rui Liao

Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Prof. Dr. Feng Wang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Feng Wang

Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

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First published: 11 July 2023
Citations: 17

Graphical Abstract

Donor-acceptor functionality has been incorporated into the π-conjugated monomeric structure to program self-assembly pathways, directing the formation of parallel-stacked supramolecular polymers as metastable species and slip-stacked ones as the thermodynamically stable species.

Abstract

Controlling the nanoscale orientation of π-conjugated systems remains challenging due to the complexity of multiple energy landscapes involved in the supramolecular assembly process. In this study, we have developed an effective strategy for programming the pathways of π-conjugated supramolecular polymers, by incorporating both electron-rich methoxy- or methanthiol-benzene as donor unit and electron-poor cyano-vinylenes as acceptor units on the monomeric structure. It leads to the formation of parallel-stacked supramolecular polymers as the metastable species through homomeric donor/acceptor packing, which convert to slip-stacked supramolecular polymers as the thermodynamically stable species facilitated by heteromeric donor-acceptor packing. By further investigating the external seed-induced kinetic-to-thermodynamic transformation behaviors, our findings suggest that the donor-acceptor functionality on the seed structure is crucial for accelerating pathway conversion. This is achieved by eliminating the initial lag phase in the supramolecular polymerization process. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into designing molecular structures that control aggregation pathways of π-conjugated nanostructures.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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