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

Langmuir. 2014 Oct 21;30(41):12429-37. doi: 10.1021/la503459y. Epub 2014 Oct 8.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Dipeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Dipeptides / chemistry*
  • Gels / chemical synthesis*
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Dipeptides
  • Gels
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • tetrathiafulvalene