Self-assembly and near-infrared photothermal conversion research of molecular figure-of-eight

Abstract

Herein, a novel organometallic Figure-of-Eight was designed rationally and constructed smoothly by coordination driven self-assembly. Single X-ray diffraction analysis displayed that the molecular Figure-of-Eight bear two ways of winding (left handed and right handed). In addition, two sets of strong π-π stacking interactions could be observed clearly based on four imide groups from two ligand L2, which might result in nonradiative transitions and trigger photothermal conversion in both the solution and the solid states. Thus, the photothermal conversion study was performed in different laser densities (0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5 ​W/cm2) at 660 ​nm in both solution and solid states. The results exhibited a good photothermal conversion efficiency (16.34%) at the laser density of 0.9 ​W/cm2 in the solution state. This study reflects clearly that the half-sandwich-based complexes could be utilized as valuable NIR photothermal conversion materials, which might be promising candidates for further improvement of materials science.