Yanwen Yu

Anthraceno-Perylene Bisimides: The Precursor of a New Acene

A controlled synthesis strategy for a anthracene-fused perylene bisimide was developed from the cyclization of an anthracene unit pendant to a perylene diimide scaffold. The direct cyclization led to a zigzag molecule, while a Diels-Alder strategy influenced the regiochemistry of cyclization to afford the linear precursor of a new acene.

Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of Novel Monoadducts and Bisadducts Based on Amide Methanofullerene

Four new [6,6]-phenyl-C(61) and C(71) butylsaure n-dibutyl amides (PCBDBA) with mono- and bis-adduction on C(60) and C(70) cages, respectively, have been synthesized as models to study the effect of the mono- and bis-adduction on fullerene cages on device performance when used as electron acceptors with the donor of regioregular P3HT in bulkheterojunction organic photovoltaics (BHJ-OPV). The optoelectronic, electrochemistry, and photovoltaic properties of these mono- and bis-products were fully investigated. The best device performance of these fullerene derivatives were obtained from the two monoadducts with power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.77% for C(60) derivative and 1.90% for C(70) derivative, respectively, which are close to PCBMs 2.43%. The results revealed the structure-function relationship among the monoadduct and bisadduct derivatives of C(60) and C(70) with the BHJ-OPV performance.

Solid Supramolecular Architecture of a Perylene Diimide Derivative for Fluorescent Enhancement

A new p-phenylenevinylene-linked perylene diimide has been synthesized and self-assembled for the formation of zero-dimensional molecular aggregate structures of nanospheres and vesicles through solvent tuning. The solid-state optical properties induced by a special wavelength laser were studied and the results indicated excellent fluorescent enhancement properties. The emission intensity of these aggregates increased with elongation of the laser irradiation time. Based on the analysis of variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra, DFT calculations, and the single-crystal structure of the linkage group, a conformation-dependent fluorescent enhancement mechanism could be demonstrated. The mechanism is different from the fluorescent bleaching of normal solid-state fluorescent materials and offers potential applications in optical devices.

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Dihydroxyperylene Bisimides for the Tuning of Photophysical Properties

The synthesis of 1,10-dihydroxyperylene bisimides by nucleophilic substitution of brominated perylene bisimide is described. 1,10-Dihydroxyperylene bisimides formed J aggregates in nonpolar solvents and showed a clearly redshifted absorption band. The solvent polarity also influenced the hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group, and thus, the photophysical properties of perylene bisimide. The photophysical properties of these dihydroxyperylene perylene bisimides can also be tuned by changing charge transfer from the hydroxyl groups to the perylene core through the introduction of metal ions.

A “clicked” porphyrin cage with high binding affinity towards fullerenes

A cage-structured receptor was synthesized in a facile “clicked” way and showed high affinity for fullerenes and differentiated rates of binding to C60 and C70.

Self-assembly of a tripyrenylboron molecule towards solid sensor for fluoride anions

We have succeeded in the synthesis of a novel triarylboron compound TPB, in which an electron-accepting B atom is connected to three electron-donating pyrene molecules. Through the method of supramolecular self-assembly, this donor–acceptor molecule can easily form solid supermolecular structures, such as 1D nanowires, nanofibers, nanorods and highly orderly-patterned microslice arrays, which all showed blue-fluorescence. Interestingly, a unique feature was observed: the solid fluorescence of these supermolecular aggregates could be quenched by fluoride anions. This result indicated that these solid superstructural materials have a potential application in the detection and separation of fluoride anions.

Designed synthesis and supramolecular architectures of furan-substituted perylene diimide.

Novel furan-substituted perylene diimides are successfully synthesized and an efficient supramolecular architecture approach to construct zero/one-dimensional nano- and micro-structures by controlling solvents has been demonstrated. The aggregate structure conversion in different molecular structures can be controlled in the form of sphere-like, rod-like, and vesicle-like structures. As expected, these solid supramolecular rod-like architectures displayed interesting optical waveguide behavior, which indicates the aggregate structure materials of furan-substituted perylene diimides have the potential application as micro-scale photonic elements.