Organic nanoaggregates: A window to submicron optics

Nanoscaled photonic devices rely on a thorough understanding of the influence of microscopic morphological changes on the optoelectronic properties. Here, we investigate as a model system, organic nanofibers and microrings from para-phenylene molecules, which provide high flexibility in terms of controlled growth manipulation, while, on the other hand, showing self-assembled multiplication of individual entities. Examples on selective spectroscopy, scanning fluorescence optical microscopy, and waveguiding of individual nanofibers, as well as arrays of nanofibers are given. Both the linear optical properties, as well as the waveguiding efficiency are strongly related to the morphology of the nanoaggregates. Organic nanoaggregates, thus, are an interesting benchmark system for the investigation of the applicability of a variety of optical methods in the nanodomain.