Building up colors: multilayered arrays of peryleneimides on flat surfaces and on mesoporous layers

Novel monoisomeric perylene imide derivatives with terpyridinyl and pyrrolidinyl substituents were synthesized and deposited onto solid substrates, such as a thin film of Al2O3 and mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticle layer, by using a simple dip-by-dip method. Arrays of up to 33 layers were built on Al2O3. In the case of mesoporous TiO2, the interstitial volume between the particles was filled up with dye assemblies. Deposition could produce either layers of microcrystals or molecular layers if an appropriate washing procedure was used. The resultant arrays were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, and UV/Vis absorption.