A π-conjugated hydrogel based on an Fmoc-dipeptide naphthalene diimide semiconductor

• DOI: 10.1039/c0cc00701c
• Publication Date: 2010-05-14T08:30:42Z
• Authors: Hui Shao; Jon R. Parquette
• Keywords: Circular Dichroism; Hydrogels; Dipeptides; 02 engineering and technology; Naphthalenes; Imides; 01 natural sciences; Protein Structure, Secondary; Nanostructures; 0104 chemical sciences; Semiconductors; X-Ray Diffraction; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; 0210 nano-technology

The beta-sheet self-assembly of an n-type NDI-dipeptide into a transparent, self-supporting hydrogel at low concentrations is described. The nanostructure of the gel is stabilized by the intermolecular pi-pi association of the NDI units and pi-pi interdigitation of the fluorene groups.