Autonomous Supramolecular Interface Self‐Healing Monitored by Restoration of UV/Vis Absorption Spectra of Self‐Assembled Thiazole Layers

Abstract

Longevity of complex organic devices critically depends on the supramolecular integrity of the constituting layers and interfaces. Because the latter are soft matter, they can structurally respond to perturbation of their supramolecular structure by relaxing back to a thermodynamically favorable state. To use this response for self‐healing of optoelectronically active layers and particularly interfaces, the degraded dyes in these layers need to be exchanged with non‐degraded ones. Here, we present a dye layer interfaced between a solid surface and a dye reservoir that autonomously self‐heals after photo‐degradation of single molecules to restore its optical function. Surface sensitive in situ photothermal deflection spectroscopy reveals that this supramolecular self‐healing approach critically depends on the thermodynamic stability of the layer, the chemical change of the dye upon degradation, and the medium dissolving the degraded dye and providing the reservoir dyes. Hence, the interplay of these parameters is key to successfully using this supramolecular self‐healing approach to thin layers and interfaces in organic device for increased sustainability of organic optoelectronics and related fields.

Self‐Assembled Graphene/MWCNT Bilayers as Platinum‐Free Counter Electrode in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…EQE is determined with a home‐built setup . Light from a 1000 W Xe lamp attached to a 260 mm triple grating monochromator modulated by mechanical chopping at 83 Hz.…”

Macroscopic Quantum Electrodynamics and Density Functional Theory Approaches to Dispersion Interactions between Fullerenes

“…This result explains the spatial and the orientational dependence by the spatial variable x and the angle θ, respectively. The vdW potential for the excited state remains the same with a changed C 6 -coefficient that separates additively into two parts: one for the resonant (7) and one for the non-resonant (4) contribution. In this case, it is sufficient to derive the interaction with the ground state particle, because the unknown excited state enters the further analysis as a fitting parameter.…”

“…In addition to molecular structure, [1,2,3,4] particularly the supramolecular structure essentially determines ensemble properties, such as the UV-vis absorption [5,6,7] and emission [2,8] spectrum, charge transfers [9], conductivity [10,11,12] and further properties [13,14]. Archetype examples are formations of H-or J-aggregates from dipolar dyes, which are accompanied by pronounced changes in the UV-vis absorption spectra.…”

Supramolecular Reorientation During Deposition Onto Metal Surfaces of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Langmuir Monolayers Composed of Bifunctional Amphiphilic, Twisted Perylenes

“…The hydrophilic side typically consists of carboxylic acids, amines, sulfone amides, or other polar groups, which anchor the Langmuir layer in the water subphase and are predestined to bind to oxidic surfaces. − Therefore, such films are preferably deposited via the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique (upstroke), which enables direct contact between the hydrophilic layer side and the polar oxidic surface within the aqueous subphase, essentially within the water meniscus as shown in Figure . If the hydrophobic side of the Langmuir layer shall bind to a surface, the Langmuir–Schaefer (LS) or LB downstroke technique is preferentially applied (see Figure ).…”