PEGylated perylene bisimides: Chromonic building blocks for the aqueous synthesis of nanostructured silica materials

Abstract Perylene dyes have applications in many fields. Herewith, we report on the synthesis and properties of a series PEGylated perylene bisimides with varying PEG chain lengths. Such molecules are formed by hydrophobic core functionalized at imide positions hydrophilic non-ionic functional groups, which impart solubility capacity to self-assemble water. The diluted solutions synthesized show interesting optical fluorescent that depend solvent concentration; they also surface activity lower critical solution temperature. Moreover, high concentrations, produce lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals nematic hexagonal structures, aligned molecular stacks. mesostructures were successfully exploited for preparation hybrid silica materials ordered nanostripes generate nanopores (of ca. 1.4 nm) upon calcination. It was found distance between hence pore wall thickness can be finely tuned changing length chain.