Chunjie Zhou

An Unusual Addition Reaction for Constructing a Novel pH-Controlled Fluorescence Switch

A pH-controlled fluorescence switch based on a core-substituted naphthalenediimide compound (NDI-DBU) was constructed. The novel pentacyclic compound (NDI-DBU) was derived from naphthalenediimide (NDI) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in only one synthetic operation, catalysized by CuI.

Synthesis of a Fluorescent Polymer Bearing Covalently Linked Thienylene Moieties and Rhodamine for Efficient Sensing

A novel conjugated polymer (RB-PPETE) of poly[p-(phenylene ethynylene)-alt-(thienylene ethynylene)] (PPETE) bearing covalently linked thienylene rings and Rhodamine B units has been synthesized and successfully used to detect metal ions. The Rhodamine B exists as a lactone, which is colorless and non-fluorescent. Hg(2+) ions can induce the Rhodamine group to form a ring-opened state. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was demonstrated in the polymer, and in the presence of Hg(2+) ions the excitation energy along the backbone of the conjugated polymer is transferred to the energy acceptor (Rhodamine B), which leads to a visual color change of the solution from slight yellow to orange. Meanwhile, this new system shows outstanding Hg(2+) -selective FRET off-on type fluoroionophoric properties among the representative metal ions in tetrahydrofuran.

Ion-Specific Self-Assembly of Low-Dimension Aggregate Structures of Conjugated Polymer at Two-Phase Interface

A novel and facile approach to manipulate the morphology of Cu(2+)-ion-specific assembly of conjugated polymer by coordinative interaction at an oil-water two-phase interface is present. The application of increasing importance is the use of π-conjugated polymers as receptors, exploiting their ability to selectively form complexes, which can obviously change the optical properties in solution and induce the formation of varied solid nano/microstructures. By this method, microtubes are formed through self-rolling of a strained ionic bilayer film at the oil/water interface.

Self-assembly of low dimensional nanostructures and materials via supramolecular interactions at interfaces

Low dimensional inorganic-organic heterostructure nanomaterials with multiple different functional components attaching at interface have drawn considerable attention over the last decades, due to their excellent optical and electronic properties in comparison with their individual components. Supramolecular self-assembly of disordered building blocks has played an essential role in constructing well-defined functionalized structures. Solid-liquid interfaces are known as ideal platforms in the self-assembly process, thus providing a series of novel and attractive strategies to construct low dimensional inorganic-organic heterostructure nanomaterials with different sizes and shapes. In this review, we summarized low dimensional inorganic-organic heterostructure nanomaterials on the basis of self-assembly that is driven by synergistically metal-ligand coordination and other intermolecular interactions. Both stepwise self-assembly on the inorganic (or organic) solid surface and self-assembly of inorganic-organic building block through hydrogen bond, metal-ligand coordination interaction, π-π stacking, hydrophobic interaction, and covalently bonding were discussed.

Organic crystallizable solvent served as template for constructing well-ordered PPE films

Tuning the solidification of the crystallizable solvent naphthalene, well-patterned conjugated polymer poly(phenyleneethynylene) (PPE) films with well-defined nanostructures of 0D nanodots, 1D lamellas, and 2D texture nanostructures have been prepared by several strategies. The nanostructures have been characterized and the formation mechanisms for the morphologies have been discussed.