From nano ribbon to fibre by concentration control

Organic nanofibres were made by self-assembly of a simple gelator containing fluorene. The ratio of the length and diameter of the fibres strongly depends on the concentration of the gel. By the help of two reference molecules and spectral data, the mechanism of the nanofibre formation was investigated. An appropriate cooperation of hydrogen bonds, π⋯π interactions and steric hindrance is the key to the formation of the gel and nanofibres.