Phe-Phe Di-Peptide Nanostructure Self-Assembling Modulated by Luminescent Additives.

In this work, supramolecular l-l-diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) nanostructures were self-assembled in solvents of distinct polarity and in the presence of luminescent additives of distinct conjugation length that physically adhere to the nanostructures to provide growth environments of distinct properties. When the additive is poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], an electron donor polymer, and solvent is tetrahydrofuran (THF), Phe-Phe vesicle-like structures are obtained, whereas in water and in the presence of a similar additive in structure, poly[5-methoxy-2-(3-sulfopropoxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], nanotubes are formed. In contrast, when 9-vinyl-carbazole, an electron acceptor additive is used, nanotubes are formed even when THF is the solvent.