Tailoring of stacked π-electron arrays from electron—and/or energy donor—acceptor molecules based on two-dimensional supramolecular assemblies

A newly proposed ‘crystal engineering’ based on two-dimensional supramolecular assemblies, e.g. bilayer membranes, is shown to be quite useful for tailoring stacked π-electron arrays which are applicable to molecular photonics devices of long-range energy and/or electron transportation. Formation and migration of single excitons through π-electron arrays of stilbene chromophores and failoring of charge transfer complexes of viologen amphiphiles are described as successful examples of the two—dimensional ‘crystal engineering’ for constructing stacked π-electron arrays directing photoinduced electron transfer. Molecular-recognition-directed assembling of nucleic acid—base pairs at the air/water interface is shown to be another method of tailoring stacked π-electron arrays.