Assembling photo- and electroresponsive molecules and nano-objects

The self-assembly of small molecules into large, functional nanostructures has led to the construction of supramolecular systems, both in solution and on solid substrates, with defined dimensions that display unique properties through collective interactions, much like natural systems. In this article, we show how one assembles photo- and electroluminescent molecules through coordination chemistry for the purpose of producing novel materials that can be used for displays and lighting applications. In a stepwise process, we discuss the design and synthesis of the components, their spectroscopic behavior, and finally the properties arising from the assembly. We then move from molecules to more complex systems such as zeolite L nano-objects that can be used as nanocontainers and functionalized in different ways. We show how it is possible to organize rods of micron length in a geometrically controlled manner in solution and on surfaces. The assemblies are built by coordinative bonds and are luminescent materials that can be constructed from fluorescent building blocks, with potential applications as optoelectronic materials, in analogy to their molecular counterparts.