Excitation energy transfer from non-aggregated molecules to perylenediimide nanoribbons via ionic interactions in water

Two energy donor-acceptor self-assembly systems have been constructed by using π-π, lipophilic, and ionic interactions in water. π-stacked N,N′-ditridecylperylenediimide (PDI), which forms nanoribbons, has been dispersed in water in the presence of myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTAB) through lipophilic interactions of tridecyl groups of PDIs with long tails of MTAB molecules. Cationic heads of MTAB molecules, anchored on the bulk of the side-chains of the nanoribbons, attract water-soluble zinc tetra(4- sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin tetrapotassium salt (ZnTPPSK ₄) and lucifer yellow CH dipotassium salt (LY). By this design, efficient photosensitization of non-aggregated energy donors, ZnTPPSK ₄ and LY, has been achieved while retaining the one-dimensional order at nanoscale, resulting in the efficient excitation energy transfer to PDI nanoribbons in each system.