Sequential Self‐Assembly of 1D Branched Organic Homostructures with Optical Logic Gate Function

Abstract

AbstractIntegrated microstructures composed of organic micro/nanocrystals have gained impressive interest recently as probable candidate for constructing optoelectronic circuits. However, the fabrication of these designed composite structures remains a huge challenge. Herein, the sequentially self‐assembled branched homostructures based on 1D single‐crystalline organic microrods of 1,4‐bis((E)‐4‐iodostyryl)‐2,5‐dimethoxybenzene through the facile solution‐processing approach are demonstrated. The growth mechanism of these dendritic microcrystals with an angle of 75° between trunk and branch is attributed to the facet‐selective growth principle between the (020) and (110) crystal planes, for which the interplanar spacing mismatch rate is as low as 6.1%. More significantly, this branched microstructure exhibits an asymmetric optical waveguide and can function as an optical logic gate with an ON/OFF ratio of 10.5. Therefore, the approach to build this organized multilevel structure could provide further applications as building blocks in integrated optoelectronic circuits.