Organic Nanomaterials

Our group is interested in the synthesis of new kinds of nanomaterials and nanostructures from a variety of compounds, especially from low-molecular-weight organic molecules. The weak intermoecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonds, pi-pi interactions, van de Waals force) drive the assemble process from individual molecules into highly ordered packing structures. Therefore, spheres, cubes, rods, belts, wires, tubes, sheets and many other shapes can be controllably constructed by either vapor deposition or liquid-phase assembly routes. Furthermore, these functional organic molecules show distinct optical/electronic properties in the aggregate form of solids rather than those in solutions.