Small-molecule, ionic isolation lattices (SMILEs) are a powerful new material for the creation of solids with programable optical properties. SMILEs materials solve the long-standing problem of aggregation-induced quenching of molecular fluorophores (dyes) when they pack closely together. We simply add cyanostar that hierarchically self-assembles with the cationic dyes after capturing the counter anion. The resulting charge-by-charge stacks spatially and electronically isolate the dyes. The versatility of the design principles underpinning SMILEs behavior to turn on fluorescence has been shown across several classes of fluorophore. The only receptor evaluated to date, however, is the cyanostar macrocycle. In this work, we test the versatility of the plug-and-play nature of SMILEs by examining tricarbazolo triazolophane (tricarb) and bambus[6]uril are evaluated in place of cyanostar. A key feature that we believe leads to charge-by-charge packing is the translation of anion binding stoichiometry from solution to solids. XRD analysis shows that the tricarb forms a 1:1 charge-by-charge stack, and bambus[6]uril forming either a 1:2 or 1:1 receptor-dye assembly despite favoring a 1:1 assembly in solution. We show that tricarb and bambus[6]uril form emissive materials when conforming to the SMILEs design criteria, and thus verifying that the principles can be extended to other receptors. However, the success rate falls far below that of cyanostar. This study opens the possibility for any research group to use their receptors to further explore solid optical materials. Additionally, anion-dependent coordination in bambus[6]uril suggests that programmable monomer-dimer emission is on the horizon.

Plugging and playing with receptors in fluorescent SMILEs materials

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