Hierarchical Corannulene‐Based Materials: Energy Transfer and Solid‐State Photophysics

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie (International ed.) 2017-04, Vol.56 (16), p.4525-4529
• Main Authors: Rice, Allison M., Fellows, W. Brett, Dolgopolova, Ekaterina A., Greytak, Andrew B., Vannucci, Aaron K., Smith, Mark D., Karakalos, Stavros G., Krause, Jeanette A., Avdoshenko, Stanislav M., Popov, Alexey A., Shustova, Natalia B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Communication; Communications; corannulene; Coupling (molecular); Crystal structure; Data processing; Energy transfer; Engineering; Fullerenes; Ligands; Luminescence; MOFs; Molecular electronics; Optoelectronic devices; Photoluminescence; Photons; photophysics; Scaffolds; Solid state
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201612199

We report the first example of a donor–acceptor corannulene‐containing hybrid material with rapid ligand‐to‐ligand energy transfer (ET). Additionally, we provide the first time‐resolved photoluminescence (PL) data for any corannulene‐based compounds in the solid state. Comprehensive analysis of PL data in combination with theoretical calculations of donor–acceptor exciton coupling was employed to estimate ET rate and efficiency in the prepared material. The ligand‐to‐ligand ET rate calculated using two models is comparable with that observed in fullerene‐containing materials, which are generally considered for molecular electronics development. Thus, the presented studies not only demonstrate the possibility of merging the intrinsic properties of π‐bowls, specifically corannulene derivatives, with the versatility of crystalline hybrid scaffolds, but could also foreshadow the engineering of a novel class of hierarchical corannulene‐based hybrid materials for optoelectronic devices. But first, coffee: A rapid ligand‐to‐ligand energy transfer observed in the first example of a donor–acceptor corannulene‐based scaffold is similar to the energy that a cup of coffee could provide. Many components can be added to the corannulene bowl, similar to cream and sugar added to coffee, highlighting the possibility of merging the intrinsic properties of π‐bowls with the tunability of hierarchical materials for applications in optoelectronic devices.