Abstract: A perylene bisimide bearing amide groups was synthesized. In acetic acid, the UV-Vis spectra of the compound displayed a characteristic band at 647 nm, indicating that the molecules aggregated to form “black phase”, in which the perylene chromophores packed in an in-phase mode. The band shifted to 571 nm as ethanol was used as solvent, indicating the formation of “red phase”, in which the chromophores packed in an interdigital mode. SEM and TEM images demonstrat that the morphology of black phase was characterized by nanowires in length of hundreds micrometers and diameter of 100—200 nm; while the morphology of red phase was predominated by shuttle-like microstructures. The black solid changed into red solid in acetic acid aqueous solution with volume fraction of 40%, both the UV-Vis and FTIR spectra monitored the transition from black to red phase, and SEM images demonstrate the decomposition of long nanowires and the formation of short shuttle-like microstructures at such a concentration.

Key words: Nanowire, Perylene bisimide, Molecular packing