Conducting nanofibers and organogels derived from the self-assembly of tetrathiafulvalene-appended dipeptides

Nalluri, S. K. M., Shivarova, N., Kanibolotsky, A. L., Zelzer, M., Gupta, S., Frederix, P. W.J.M., Skabara, P. J. , Gleskova, H. and Ulijn, R. V. (2014) Conducting nanofibers and organogels derived from the self-assembly of tetrathiafulvalene-appended dipeptides. Langmuir, 30(41), pp. 12429-12437. (doi: 10.1021/la503459y) (PMID:25259412)

Abstract

We demonstrate the nonaqueous self-assembly of a low-molecular-mass organic gelator based on an electroactive p-type tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)–dipeptide bioconjugate. We show that a TTF moiety appended with diphenylalanine amide derivative (TTF-FF-NH2) self-assembles into one-dimensional nanofibers that further lead to the formation of self-supporting organogels in chloroform and ethyl acetate. Upon doping of the gels with electron acceptors (TCNQ/iodine vapor), stable two-component charge transfer gels are produced in chloroform and ethyl acetate. These gels are characterized by various spectroscopy (UV–vis–NIR, FTIR, and CD), microscopy (AFM and TEM), rheology, and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Furthermore, conductivity measurements performed on TTF-FF-NH2 xerogel nanofiber networks formed between gold electrodes on a glass surface indicate that these nanofibers show a remarkable enhancement in the conductivity after doping with TCNQ.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Skabara, Professor Peter
• Authors: Nalluri, S. K. M., Shivarova, N., Kanibolotsky, A. L., Zelzer, M., Gupta, S., Frederix, P. W.J.M., Skabara, P. J., Gleskova, H., and Ulijn, R. V.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Langmuir
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0743-7463
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5827
• Published Online: 26 September 2014
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 American Chemical Society
• First Published: First published in Langmuir 30(41): 12429-12437
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License