Three-dimensional self-organization of supramolecular self-assembled porphyrin hollow hexagonal nanoprisms

A self-assembly technique assisted with surfactant is developed to fabricate one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure of zinc meso-tetra (4-pyridyl) porphyrin. The so-prepared nanostructure appears in a shape of hollow hexagonal nanoprism with uniform size. The length and aspect ratio of the nanoprisms is easily tunable by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of porphyrin over surfactant. The internal structure of the nanoprisms is well described by XRD. Furthermore, as a result of dispersivity and regular geometric shape, these nanoprisms can readily self-organize into an ordered, smectic three-dimensional (3D) architecture through simple evaporation of the solvent. The results should be significant in porphyrin crystallization and porphyrin application in optoelectronic device, catalysis, drug delivery, and molecular filtration.