Binary ionic porphyrin self-assembly: Structures, and electronic and light-harvesting properties

Porphyrins are a class of conjugated molecules that structurally and functionally resemble natural photosynthetic and enzymatic chromophores. Crystalline solids self-Assembled from anionic and cationic porphyrins yield a new class of multifunctional optoelectronic micro-and nanomaterials. In this article, we provide details on the concept of binary ionic self-Assembly (ISA) and ionized forms of porphyrins, as well as formation of hierarchical structures, including nanotubes, rods and ribbons, sheets, and three-dimensional clover-like shapes, spheres, and sheaf-like structures. We summarize key physical properties from ultraviolet-visible characterizations of J-Aggregate, exciton delocalization and extended π-π stacking, and related electronic and light-harvesting properties of the structures. Depending on the molecular subunits, the functionalities of the ISA materials are altered. These ISA nanostructures possess attractive light-harvesting and charge-and energy-Transport functionalities and allow access to a novel class of nanomaterials with potential for applications in sensors, photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and solar power. © Materials Research Society 2019 A.