Two-dimensional optical waveguiding and luminescence vapochromic properties of 8-hydroxyquinoline zinc (Znq2) hexagonal microsheets.

Two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal microsheets of 8-hydroxyquinoline zinc (Znq2) were synthesized readily via a mixed solvent induced self-assembly method. The 2D optical waveguiding properties of the microsheets have been clearly revealed by both fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. In addition, the reversible vapochromic properties of the microsheets have also been demonstrated when the Znq2 is exposed to HCl and NH3 vapors.

Selective growth of dual-color-emitting heterogeneous microdumbbells composed of organic charge-transfer complexes.

We report a simple yet versatile solution route for constructing heterojunctions from luminescent organic charge-transfer (CT) complexes through a two-step seeded-growth method. Using this method, we achieved anisotropic and selective growth of anthracene-1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) complexes onto the tips of naphthalene-TCNB microtubes, resulting in the formation of microdumbbells. Significantly, the two-component microdumbbells appear as dual-color-emitting heterojunctions arising from integration of two distinct color-emitting materials. We further elucidated the two-step seeded-growth mechanism of the dumbbell-like organic heterostructures on the basis of structural analysis of the two crystals and surface-interface energy balance. In principle, the present synthetic route may be used to fabricate a wide range of sophisticated dual- or multicolor-emitting organic heterostructures via judicious choice of the CT complexes.

White-light emitting microtubes of mixed organic charge-transfer complexes.

Self-assembled microtubes of mixed charge-transfer (CT) complexes comprising TCNB and naphthalene can be constructed with pyrene as dopant by an etching-assisted CT-induced interaction. Highly efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the excited naphthalene-TCNB to pyrene-TCNB molecules is obtained in mixed CT complex microtubes. White-light emissive CT complex microtubes can be formed by adjusting the dopant concentration and serve as an active optical waveguide.